Guilty plea in 2002 murder

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - A seven year old murder case has finally ended in a guilty plea. Tereso Pacheco, 45, pleaded guilty to the murder of Juanita Santarrossa.

Pacheco admitted Monday to killing Santarrossa, 44, his former girlfriend. She was found dead along Lilly Road in 2002. She suffered gunshot wounds.

Court records said Pacheco was upset that Santarrosa had a new boyfriend and he had threatened to kill her three weeks prior to her death.  The Affidavit said the murder charge was based on DNA evidence from the car Pacheco was using. It was abandoned in Utah and detectives found blood in the front passenger seat.

Police said Pacheco fled the area and was arrested in Mexico in February 2008. He was extradited back to the United States a year later.

Pacheco faces up to 65 years in prison when he is sentenced in Tippecanoe Circuit Court on July 17th. Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Pat Harrington said Pacheco also faces deportation after he completes the sentence.