Jason Richard Garcia stood before a judge Tuesday and admitted that he shot his former girlfriend.
"I caused the death of Monica Vigil. Yes, I did," he told 3rd District Judge Frank Noel.Many in the packed courtroom from both Vigil's and Garcia's families burst into sobs. The whimpers returned when the 18-year-old pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.
Vigil's mother, Ann Stewart, said the emotions were hard to contain for her and her family when Garcia admitted his guilt. "Those are the only words I've ever heard him speak," she said. "It was very difficult."
Vigil was shot three times while lying in bed in her Murray home. Investigators believe Garcia fired the gun while standing outside her bedroom window, perhaps leaning through the window. The first shot was to the back of Vigil's head - execution style.
Garcia was originally charged with murder, but Deputy Salt Lake County Attorney Robert Stott said the state allowed him to plead guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter to avoid the possibility of a jury acquitting him altogether.
The case was based entirely on circumstantial evidence, and the motive for the shooting was "less than obvious," said County Attorney David Yocom.
"It was our feeling and their (Vigil's family's) feeling the most important thing in this case is the person who killed Monica Vigil . . . be found guilty of this crime," Stott said.
Defense attorney Ken Brown said his client never intended to kill Vigil. The shooting, he said, stemmed from the "emotions of two kids that should be going to a junior prom instead of the distress they were dealing with."
Brown said, "They were lovers. They were friends. They shared their lives with each other. But something on Nov. 2, 1993, snapped in Jason Garcia and caused him to take a life."
Brown said the couple had not severed their relationship, but he said they were dealing with "emotional concepts." Stott, however, said the couple had split earlier, but Garcia was jealous and possessive.
"They had broken up, but Jason wouldn't accept it," Stott said.
Noel will sentence Garcia on June 17. The maximum penalty for manslaughter, a second-degree felony, is one to 15 years in prison.
Stewart said the penalty is not harsh enough, but she agrees with the state's decision. Vigil's father, Lee Vigil, said he doesn't feel much satisfaction with Garcia's guilty plea.
"My daughter doesn't get a second chance," he said. "The bottom line is we don't have our daughter back and they still have their son."
Garcia's father, Richard Garcia, said the episode has also been difficult for his family.
"My sorrow goes out to Monica and her family, but my sorrow also goes out to Jason and his family. He's a good individual and we love him," he said.
While Stewart said she does feel some closure from Garcia's plea, her participation in the court system is far from over. Her brother, Aaron Chapman, was shot to death during an alleged gang-related confrontation after a concert at the Triad Center.
Asi Mohi is charged with murder in that case. Monica Vigil was one of two eyewitnesses scheduled to testify for the prosecution.