A man suspected of being the triggerman was given a life sentence for killing a Catholic Church deacon. Cunny Pelaez pleaded guilty to the murder of Aniceto Armendariz who was shot execution style in September, 2005.Armendariz was a catholic deacon at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Heber City. He and his wife Alma were traveling along Highway 40 near the Jordanelle Dam on a Sunday evening when a pickup truck pulled along side them. There was a spray of buillets aimed at Armendariz' vehicle. He died but the bullets missed his wife's head by inches.
"I haven't forgotten that moment," said Alma Armendariz following the sentencing of Pelaez. "I have the moment in my head every day."
Pelaez was given a six years to life sentence after he pleaded guilty to killing Almendariz. His father, Antonio Pelaez-Vasquez, who is also accused awaits a trial in late April..
Pelaez attorney, Scott E. Williams said the 20-year old was "sorry" for what he did but failed to supply a reason for the murder.
Prosecutors say Deacon Aniceto was murdered because he spoke out against criminals and drugs. "There are certain people that didn't want Mr. Armendariz to continue cooperating the way he was, not that he was providing any specific information," said prosecutor Thomas Low.
The deacon worked alongside Father Robert Bussen of Park City.
"That loss was incomparable and it did send a message especially to our Hispanic people be afraid, be afraid," said Father Bussen.
His wife says Deacon Almendariz befriended Pelaez when the 20-year old signed up to take lessons at Almendariz' driving school. "The thing that hurts me the most was Cunny used to call my husband master, "el maestro" every time he addressed him he use to say 'maestro," said the widow.
But she said her husband never counseled him nor met with him after the sessions. "I was devastated and betrayed when I found out there were two Mexicans involved in this," she said.
"Our own people, not anyone but our own people, the people who my husband have helped."
Alma says it was "a miracle from God" that her life was spared. Alma was in the passenger seat when the shooting started. She said she leaned forward and the bullets hit the seat's headrest and the backside of the seat. "
When this was happening I called to Jesus Christ and prayed to him and he saved my life," she said.
"I believe that God realized our four children needed a parent and he made that possible."
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