Man found guilty of raping, killing Mesa teen

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A Mesa man has been found guilty of the rape and strangulation of a teen girl whose body was found in a dumpster more than 10 years ago.

On Wednesday, it took only 45 minutes for a jury to find Alex Madrid guilty of all counts for the murder of 14-year-old Claudia Lucero in 2013. The jury unanimously found him guilty of the following charges.

First-degree murder
Kidnapping
Sexual conduct with a minor
Second-degree burglary
Abandonment or concealment of a dead body
Unlawful flight from law enforcement vehicle,

The verdict was read at the conclusion of a trial that began on Aug. 22.

During the trial, prosecutors and investigators detailed their case against Madrid. Shortly before Lucero’s murder, her mother had broken up with Madrid and told him to move out of the apartment.

On Dec. 5, 2013, the teen’s mother and brothers left home while she was still getting ready for school. That’s when prosecutors say Madrid entered the apartment, sexually assaulted Lucero and strangled her.

After her death, the state says Madrid put the girl’s body and some of her belongings into a storage tub, then wrapped it in a comforter and placed it in a dumpster at a nearby apartment complex. Two women searching for bottles and cans found her body the next morning.

Evidence collected at the apartment and where her body was hidden was linked to Madrid. Meanwhile, the defense claimed that police had their minds made up and never looked for any other possible suspect.

The jury will be back in court next week to hear from an expert witness before sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. Because this is a capital murder case, the jury will decide if Madrid spends the rest of his life behind bars, or if he’ll face the death penalty.

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