RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KTLA) — A former Marine convicted in the murders of a fellow Marine and his wife in 2008 was sentenced to death Friday in Riverside.
Tyrone Miller, 25, was one of three former marines convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of Sgt. Jan Pietrzak, 24, and his wife, Quiana Jenkins-Pietrzak, 26.
The couple were murdered inside their Winchester home in 2008.
Evidence showed Jenkins-Pietrzak was also raped before the couple’s townhouse was set on fire in an apparent effort to destroy evidence, prosecutors said.
Both were shot in the head execution-style.
“This case stands out because of the horrendous nature and the prolonged torture that these victims were forced to endure for no reason at all,” Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Daniel Delimon said.
“For that reason, from the very beginning, we felt that a death verdict was appropriate,” Delimon said.
Pietrzak, an Iraq war veteran, was stationed at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego.
His wife was a counselor with a Riverside County infant care program.
Emrys John, 22, and Kevin Cox, 25, were also convicted of first-degree murder in the case.
A fourth former Marine, Kesaun Sykes, 25, also faced murder charges.