Man stabbed and burned mum-of-two ‘he mistook for his ex-girlfriend’ | US News

A man stabbed, beat and burned a mother-of-two he allegedly mistook for his ex-girlfriend.

Richard Montano, 48, was convicted of first-degree murder and arson on Thursday in connection with the killing of Silvia ‘Kelly’ Vaca Abacay, 40.

Prosecutors said that Abacay died after Montano beat and stabbed her and set her on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime after mistaking her for his ex-girlfriend, Fatima Via.

Abacay and her husband were staying at her friend’s apartment in Virginia, NBC Washington reported. She had a son and daughter living in Bolivia.

Montano did not know that Abacay was staying at her friend’s home and set out to kill her after she ended their rocky, eight-year relationship, according to prosecutors.

‘I feel guilty. Part of me feel guilty because he come for me, not for her,’ said Via. ‘And she have to pay for something that’s supposed to happen to me.’

Via said that Montano physically abused her, but that she did not think he would be a murderer.

A neighbor’s surveillance camera showed Montano entering Via’s apartment multiple times unlawfully before the murder on August 10, 2022.

That neighbor reported hearing loud noises and screams from the apartment and called 911.

‘Listen to the pain and anguish in Silvia’s voice as she is screaming for her life in that call,’ a prosecutor told a jury in Fairfax County.

Abacay’s cause of death was determined to be from multiple sharp and blunt force injuries, before she was burned.

Montano pleaded not guilty as his defense team tried to raise reasonable doubt.

Abacay’s husband, Joselo Landivar, called for a prison sentence for Montano.

‘Jail forever. Jail forever,’ Landivar said.

The jury found Montano guilty. He faces a maximum of life in prison and is set to be sentenced in January, Fox News Digital reported.

‘This case exhibited some of the most disturbing crime scenes I’ve encountered,’ stated Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Descano.

‘While we can’t bring Silvia back, we can ensure that Montano doesn’t pose further threats to the public.’

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