Man gets life sentence for killing estranged wife's friend Time is going and going and going with his hands around her neck and squeezing, Tate said. Debra was estranged from her husband, Tony Villegas, at the time. Debra Villegas, who has been released following a federal prison term for her role in the Ponzi scheme, took the stand during the trial. Failing to get an exact location for the phone, they turned back to Homberg and Coffey to glean information about anyone Lewis could have known in Hialeah. He sponsored the Yuma Scorpions, befriended Mike Marshall from the Los Angeles Dodgers, and hosted classic car gatherings such as the Show and Shine. Stan was born in Durango, Colorado on June 27, 1949, and was the 5th generation of the Wilmer family to live in the area. Among the ships her served on were the USS Wabash, the John Paul Jones, and many others. The track of the cell phone is mirroring where Tony Villegas would be. An autopsy revealed that she was manually strangled to death. Upon returning to California God began to open mission trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand and Africa.In 2008 the Lord led Tony to pastor a church "Century Christian Center" in Lynwood, CA.The last several years Tony and his wife began to evangelize locally from church to church.Tony transitioned from earth to his heavenly mansion on November 28, 2021. Delano Obituaries - Latest Obituaries in Delano, CA - Echovita A man who had rented Tony a room stated that he saw him wash his hands and arms to remove pepper spray residue. Speaking about the conversation with his roommate, lead prosecutor Shari Tate-Jenkins said: Authorities claimed that Villegas' cellphone's electronic pings and DNA evidence connected him to the crime scene. Published by Orange County Register on Dec. 2, 2013. They had three children, Arnold Matthew, Kevin and Carli. The evidence against Villegas was overwhelming. Prosecutor Shari Tate told jurors they had no choice but to convict, based on the evidence. He was born July 24, 1931 in El Paso,. Antonio aka (Tony) J. Villegas, Jr. Was born on May 19, 1941 to Antonio Villegas and Phyllis Puerto in Los Angeles, Ca. He is survived by his parents and loving companion, Virginia Zaragosa, daughters, Daisy and Toni Villegas of Victorville, California. When Jeannie's mom, Maxine, moved to Big River, Tony and Jeannie visited, enjoyed the area, and, in 1984, they bought a home and moved to Big River. When Tony Villegas' roommate confirmed that he returned home late on the night of the murder and asked him questions about pepper spray and how to get rid of it if sprayed on one's body, it raised suspicions about Tony Villegas' involvement in the murder. He was very proud of his children and grandchildrens education, work and life endeavors. Where he lives and where he works, said Broward County lead prosecutor Shari Tate-Jenkins. Detectives looked into him but discovered Godinez had since been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was not physically capable of carrying out the abduction and murder. rolmeda@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4457, Twitter @SSCourts and @rolmeda. Tony Villegas | Obituaries | parkerpioneer.net Tony Villegas was convicted of first-degree murder in the death. The beloved 39-year-old initially worked at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before she got her GED and went to college. The name Tony Villegas has over 45 birth records, 4 death records, 25 criminal/court records, 153 address records, 11 phone records & more. A South Florida man accused of killing a former law partner of notorious Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein was found guilty Monday. A witness stated that she saw a car similar to Tonys in the parking lot where Melissas car was eventually found. Search Delano obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. Salvador Olivas Villegas, 87 of Odessa Texas passed away on June 14, 2021 in Odessa Texas. Jose Muniz-Villegas Obituary - Colton, CA Share with Us. Don't Threaten. She was born April 19, 1954 in Colorado to Paul and Carmen (Murillo) Chacon. At the firm, one of Melissas closest friends was Debra Villegas, who was the COO. He was found guilty of first-degree murder eight years later and was given a mandatory life sentence. But we forgive you, because we must, and release you into Gods hands for all eternity. Share a memory Send Flowers Share. Be Nice. Antonio Villegas Obituary (1941 - 2021) - Legacy Remembers Debra Villegas is leaving prison early after being sentenced to 10 years for her role in Scott Rothstein's massive investment fraud. Tony is preceded in death by his parents, Alejo and Felicia Villegas; daughter Donna and son Christopher. She always wanted to be a lawyer, and her dream came true after university. Another Mass and celebration will be held near their final resting place in Pottstown, PA in 2023. Tony's hard working nature remained steadfast as he provided for his family. We spoke with him, and he had a reasonable alibi on the night she went missing, said Kendall. Tony Villegas Killed Melissa Lewis, Threw Body In Florida Canal | Crime That set off alarm bells.. There are no winners in this case, Levenson said, calling Lewis an innocent victim who did not deserve her fate. She had been strangled to death. Tony was still sharp; an avid follower of national politics and financial markets. Published by Ingold Funeral & Cremation - Fontana on Jan. 4, 2022. Tony and Jeannie bought The Dock restaurant in Big River Park, and the restaurant became popular with locals as well as seasonal visitors, especially "Oriental Night.". A pest exterminator also came by Melissas home to find the garage door open and her car missing, an ominous sign. HENRY VILLEGAS OBITUARY In Memoriam Henry G. "Enrique" Villegas Local media pioneer Henry G. "Enrique" Villegas, radio announcer, co-host of television show "Mexican Theater," and veteran. The city of Plantation winds with a series of manufactured canals in Floridas Everglade wetlands. Melissa Lewis's Dog Had Been Pepper-Sprayed, Melissa Lewis and Her Ex-Husband Got Divorced After a Few Years of Marriage, Investigators Seek Help to Arrest Tony Villegas. It took jurors less than two hours to convict him. We found 53 entries for Tony Villegas in the United States. Mr. Villegas passed away on August 9, 2008 at the age of 61. The shocking discovery was enough for detectives to get a search warrant for the Hialeah apartment Villegas shared with his roommate. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. He is survived by his children Matthew and Amy Herrera, his brothers and sisters Linda . Pointing to Tony Villegas, prosecutor Shari Tate said: Villegas was sentenced to life in prison and remains behind bars at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Lake City, Florida. Lewis even helped her friend Coffey through her own embittered divorce. that is degrading to another person. If she set her mind towards something, she accomplished the goal.. Consider offering these words of comfort if you're not sure what's appropriate. He married his second wife, Sabrina Benbury in 1986 and they had two more beautiful children.In 1991 Tony was led by the spirit of the Lord to move his family to Boise Idaho to help grow a ministry, from there to Florida, Oklahoma and finally back to California. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. He worked multiple jobs to put himself through college and medical school at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, all to make a better life for his family. Coffey was open with officers, explaining she was going through a rough divorce with Tony Villegas. And I remember my sister telling me that Debras husband, Tony, had threatened to set Debra on fire in front of her children. "Mr. Rothstein was fraternal order of police counsel for the Plantation Police Department, he represented them personally and there are other shall we say Rothstein tentacles connected to this case that we were not permitted to go into," he said. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Missy was an advocate for victims of domestic violence, said Homberg. I just want to send my love and condolences to the family at this time. Because the phone stopped for the night in Hialeah, authorities believed the killer did, too. Tony Villegas guilty of murdering partner in Rothstein law firm Be the first one to comment on this story. During those years in Pottstown, Tony and Ditas cherished time with friends and family, while also traveling and cruising through the US, Caribbean, Europe, Asia and South America. I told the police, Melissa did help me fill out the divorce papers, said Homberg. A motive for her slaying was hard to come by initially. Consider offering these words of comfort if you're not sure what's appropriate. Tony had a passion for playing board games such as Scrabble, Acey Duecey, Spades, Bingo and video poker at any casino. Pepper spray was all over the crime scene the garage of Lewis Plantation home. Prosecutors postulated he blamed Lewis for Coffey's decision to leave him. Obituaries Search for Anthony Villegas - dignitymemorial.com The waterways run through the backyards of Floridian homes, not far from where Melissa Lewis lived.The 39-year-old lawyer relocated to the Sunshine State when a job opportunity presented itself at the prestigious Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm, where her best friend, Debra Coffey, worked. They rocked on the tube. Usually in those robbery [or] carjacking scenarios, the bodys not missing, said Kendall. As Ditas became more affected by Parkinsons disease, Tony lovingly cared for her full timehimself being in his late 80s and early 90s. He then went on to attended College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA during which time he married Sue Ebersole. Now go rest easy, well take it from here. Thank You. Mr. He was preceded in death by his Mother, Father, sisters Della Meehan, Gloria Anderson and Alice Villegas. Somewhat suddenly, he died of a heart related incident. Be Proactive. Because it was then that I realized that shes gone because of me.. Filter by State in . The beloved 39-year-old initially worked at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before she got her GED and went to college. Henry Villegas Obituary (2008) - Tucson, AZ - Arizona Daily Star Investigators used the OnStar security on Lewis' car to access the vehicles GPS. What he found was the body of Melissa Lewis. Here Arnold followed his heart and went to work for Tylers Taste of Texas which lead to an opportunity to open his own restaurant, Arnies Caf. The authorities earlier confirmed that pepper spray had been used in the garage. They then looked to Hombergs ex-husband and Lewis' former brother-in-law, Anthony Godinez, who had a criminal history of drug use and armed robbery. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. She would donate things for women in distress.. Coffey told detectives that her soon-to-be ex-husband, Tony Villegas, was staying with a friend in Hialeah, not far from the tower where Lewis' phone pinged. Then the signal was lost. That kind of murder would have taken time, Tate said. Rothstein's right-hand woman to be released from prison Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Our dearly loved Father, Grandfather, "Poppie", and Husband, Antonio "Tony" Villegas, 94, of Clermont, Florida passed away on Sunday, October 23, 2022 and is now reunited with his recently deceased wife of 59 years and our beloved Mother Lourdes Bernadita "Ditas" Villegas. Jerry Villegas Obituary (2008) - Dallas, TX - Dallas Morning News All rights reserved, Person With Smiley Face Shirt, Puppy Wanted for Bank Fraud in Broward: BSO, Florida Man Pleads Guilty in 2017 Serial Killings of 4 People in Tampa, That Wasn't a Meteorite in the South Florida Sky Sunday Night. Family and friends could always rely on Tony's prayers and his laying of the hands. Albert C. Villegas <p>Albert "Peanut" Calderon Villegas, 54, of Odessa Texas passed away on July 16, 2021 in Odessa, Texas. He was the 2nd eldest of 8 children.. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Born on August 31, 1928 as the son of Eugenia and . Villegas, by your conduct, youve not only affected yourself but youve affected the lives of many people. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Who Receive obituaries Erlinda Baluyot Delemios racist or sexually-oriented language. In depositions during the federal investigation into the Ponzi scheme, Rothstein denied any connection with Lewis death. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. Tony Villegas Found Guilty in Murder of Former Scott Rothstein Partner And then [Lewis] told me that he went to her house. He is survived by his 4 children, Norma, Mike, Rick and Rosemarie;. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. After moving to Yuma, AZ and working at the family restaurant, he started his career with the Yuma County Sheriffs Department embracing the opportunity to work with various task forces, which lead to long-standing friendships. Arnold Villegas Obituary - Yuma, AZ Like our page to stay informed about passing of a loved one in Las Vegas, Nevada on facebook. Tony & Ditas married on February 14, 1963 in Manila. Tony Villegas (AKA "Dork"), a long-time resident of Big River. We were not permitted to go into the Rothstein connection to this case, and that will be subject to appeal, among other things, he said. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. The Dignity Memorial online obituary search tool gives you access to obituaries from thousands of locations across North America. Anthony Villegas, 88 of Moreno Valley, California Passed away on Thursday, September 29, 2011, at Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside, California. Albert C. Villegas Obituary Tony Villegas was born on 05/19/1941 and is 81 years old. Another said he saw Villegas scrubbing pepper spray off his arms the day after Lewis disappeared. Tony and Ditas moved to Kings Ridge in Clermont FL in 2009 to escape winters and be closer to their sons young family. While we are very sad to lose our Dad and Poppie, we take comfort knowing he is back in Moms arms where they dance again to the tunes of Frank Sinatra and Perry Como in Heaven. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Born on August 31, 1928 as the son of Eugenia and Sancho Villegas and older sibling to sisters Socoro & Ofelia Villegas (Bautista) in Teresa, Rizal, Philippines, Tony grew up in a rural small-town setting, lived through the Japanese occupation of his town during WWII, and was highly motivated to become a physician due to Socoros succumbing to smallpox at a pre-school age. There is a great opportunity coming up to help , Invalid password or account does not exist. Debras son, Caleb, later testified that his father didnt like that. For those that knew Arnold, Arnie, Chef, Dad, Papanino, there is no replacing him, he was one of a kind, the best and will truly be missed. Villegas was led from the courtroom in handcuffs to begin serving his prison term. With this selfish act of jealousy, you not only violated our family, but your own too, she said to Villegas. And she suffered the consequences.. He is the son of Mariano & Josefina Villegas of San Bernardino. The families of the defendant and the victim have been cordial throughout the weeklong trial, with Lewis sister, mother, aunt and niece all indicating that they hold no grudges against those who were close to Villegas. Melissa Lewis was not named as ever being part of the Ponzi scheme. His firm even offered a $250,000 reward for information in Lewis' case and paid for her funeral. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Tony Villegas Profiles | Facebook While he was alive he loved to be with his family and friends and enjoy great food and great times, we will honor him by doing exactly that at 2:00 pm on July 6, 2019 at Gloria De Cristo Church, 11273 E. 40th Street, Yuma Foothills (928) 342-6002, Reception will follow (5:00 pm) at the home of Claudia and Rico Fonseca, 7183 Tony Jose Villegas, 81 - Apple Valley, CA - MyLife.com In my experience, people arent put in the back of a stolen vehicle and driven away somewhere. Information about the Ponzi scheme and Coffeys involvement was kept from jurors at Villegas trial. Scott Rothstein is serving 50 years for racketeering, money laundering, and mail and wire fraud. She always wanted to be a lawyer, and her dream came true after university. He stated that Tony blamed Melissa for his separation, adding, At one point, he told me that he felt Melissa and my mom were scheming, and they were getting a divorce around the same time so they could hang out. The investigators arrested Tony a week after the murder. A tearful Coffey said that she lives in regret. Threats of harming another each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. The grocery bags were left behind and there was pepper spray all over the garage door. Tony Villegas is serving a life sentence at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Lake City, Florida. In 2001 Tony joined the Association of International Gospel Assemblies, Incorporated.Tony married his first wife Christine Almaraz and birthed 5 beautiful children. You have permission to edit this article. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. You have permission to edit this article. It might be motive for Rothstein or Coffey to eliminate her, if so. Add to your memory. Mabel Guadalupe Tapia, 67 of Gilcrest, CO, passed away at UC Health Hospital of Greeley on Saturday, October 16, 2021. The search for her ended in tragedy when her body was found in a canal. IN THE CARE OF. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Her success and busy work did not keep her from her family, especially her nieces, whom she was very close to. Editorial: Expulsion of legislators should be a last resort, Broncs finish rough 2023 season with two losses, Hiring/career expo April 26 at Parker High, Sheriffs Office awarded almost $700K in grants, Senate hopeful Rep. Gallego visits Parker. Three sisters, Linda Ochoa, Diane Gonzales and Elizabeth Marquez, a host of nieces, nephews, friends and many Christian children.To send flowers to the family of Antonio Jose Villegas Jr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Find Tony Villegas obituaries and memorials at Legacy.com. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Obituary | Antonio Cruz Villegas of Clermont, Florida | BECKER FUNERAL To plant trees in memory, please visit the, I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Tony but i was fortunate to meet his son Rick and his wonderful family. Perhaps some people in the firm knew too much, and you can draw your own conclusion.. Defense lawyer Bruce Fleischer tried to persuade jurors that the DNA evidence may have been contaminated and that the cellphone records do not reveal the precise location of Lewis phone. He was very happy to be embraced as "Dad" by Jeannie's five adventurous children. A pathology internship led them to Ottawa, Canada where they started their family with the birth of two daughters. We'd love to hear eyewitness Daughters Cindy Villegas Alvarez, Cristina Gene. They had ample evidence pointing to his guilt. Vanished Into Thin Air: Where is Tony Villegas today. Thomas was born January 31, 1945 in Tucson, Arizona. One week after her murder, Lewis was laid to rest on the same day authorities arrested Villegas and charged him with first-degree murder. Lewis aunt, Lynn Haberl, read a statement on behalf of the family shortly after the verdict was read. Investigation Discoverys Six Degrees of Murder: Going Places delves into this very case. Friends and family said Lewis and the affluent Rothstein had a close relationship. He had many friends he enjoyed spending time with in the Parker area, and he especially enjoyed his hobby of breeding and showing prize-winning roosters. Use the 'Report' link on On the morning of March 8, 1998, four miles from Lewis' home, a maintenance worker at a canal went to inspect what he believed was a clog in the grating system. Debra, who was by then divorced and went by the last name Coffey, testified that Tony had threatened both of them in the past. Thomas Villegas Obituary - Downey, CA Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Coffey also found a button from Lewis' suit on the floor. He is survived by his loving wife, Cheryl (Haley) Wilmer, his 4 children, Tony (Annie) Wilmer of Westminster, Colorado, Stephanie (George) Villegas of Brighton, Colorado, Jennifer Wilmer of Bayfield, Colorado, and Jon . Lewis talked from the Publix grocery store, where she usually stopped on the way home from the office. Melissa returned from work sometime in the evening on March 5, 2008, but she didnt show up the next day. After several dead ends, police turned to Lewis' career, interviewing the law firms founding partner, Scott Rothstein. Photos/Video. It was during this time, he started moon lighting as a Security Officer for AWC where he remained until the end. Authorities believed Villegas blamed Lewis for breaking off his marriage to Debra Coffey. Previously cities included West Covina CA, Riverside CA and Mira Loma CA. Investigators had to work with a long list of suspects after a successful lawyers body was found in a southern Florida canal. We will continue to pray for your children and your family.. His roommate said that on the night Melissa Lewis went missing, Tony Villegas came home late that night and had asked if he knew of a way to wash off or get rid of pepper spray on your body, said Tate-Jenkins. Vanished Into Thin Air will air on Monday, November 22, with a new episode. Tony's relatives from the Philippines had moved to California, and there were many enjoyable family visits. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. A young, ambitious lawyer at a law firm in Florida was brutally murdered back in March 2008. The women met with the officer at Lewis' residence and made a disturbing find: In the garage, Lewis' car was gone. "Instead of thinking about Melissa, thinking about this day, when is it going to come, it has come and gone now so now when we think about Melissa we can think about Melissa," she said. He is survived by his wife, Jeannie; daughters Sherri, Robin and Tina; grandchildren Roberto Jr., Rafael, Marcos, Shanetta, Vanessa, and Jessica; great grandchildren Ezekiel, Chyanne, Jaiden, Sierra, and Matthew Jr. Mass was held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Parker. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. TONY VILLEGAS Obituary (2013) - Santa Ana, CA - Orange County Register Eleazar (Tony) Herrea, son of Maria Villegas Ramirez and Ramon Herrera Amaro, was born in Paredones Baja Califonia, Mexico, on August 23rd 1957 as the youngest child in a large family. Antonio Jose Villegas Obituary Melissa's car was missing. Let others know about your loved one's death. Choose wisely! He is survived by his 4 children, Norma, Mike, Rick and Rosemarie; and his sister, Josie, all of whom were with him at his bedside. Tony Villegas was found guilty of first-degree murder Monday in the 2008 death of Melissa Britt Lewis, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer who was, at the time of her death, the best friend of Villegas estranged wife. He fought a long, hard and very courageous battle for well over a decade against Cancer. "I was extremely proud of her, the whole family was proud of her, she was going to be the next matriarch in the family and she was just taken away just like that," Lewis' mother, Lisa La Pointe, said after Monday's hearing. Tony Villegas was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter.Tony Villegas was born in Corona, California and worked as a commercial truck driver. Arnold Villegas unexpectedly passed away due to heart complications on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, AZ. Tony Villegas was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Melissa Lewis and was given a mandatory life sentence. They kept in close touch with their daughters and grandchildren and always enjoyed their visits. Both Debra and her children stated that he was abusive. The next morning, the cell phone traveled again, this time on a direct and straight path up to Palm Beach County. 350 Obituaries Search Nogales obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. Like our page to stay informed about passing of a loved one in Corpus Christi, Texas on facebook. Tony mentored, trained and dicipled all those that were hungry.Tony attended the Morris Cerullo School of Ministry in 1961 and 1965 receiving his diploma of completion form Deeper Life Truth Bible Institute in National City, CA.
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