A judge sentenced a West Hempfield Township man to two life terms for killing his estranged wife and sister-in-law after an altercation over who would make dinner.
Santiago Payano-Sanchez, 64, pleaded guilty Friday to killing the two ladies and gravely injuring his 33-year-old son, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
Payano-Sanchez was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole, followed by 20 to 40 years in state prison, for the killings of his wife, Ana Gutierrez-Cedano, 59, and sister-in-law, Dominga Cedano-Cedano, 74.
The deadly shooting occurred on Oct. 5, 2025, at Payano-Sanchez’s home on Oak Hollow Drive.
According to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, it all started with a family disagreement over who would make supper. During the argument, Payano-Sanchez grabbed a gun and shot Gutierrez-Cedano, who was in a wheelchair.
Payano-Sanchez then shot his son, who attempted to wrestle the gun away from him.
Then Payano-Sanchez went upstairs and fatally shot Cedano-Cedano.
The district attorney’s office stated that two children, ages two and seven, were also present at the time. They were not hurt.
Payano-Sanchez spoke to the court through an interpreter and was unable to explain why the disagreement had escalated, but he requested pardon and wished his family peace, according to the district attorney.
He reportedly stated, “I need to face what the law is imposing on me.”
According to the district attorney’s office, Cedano-Cedano’s daughter filed a letter to the court, stating that her mother’s death “has left a void that can never be filled,” and that “our family will carry this trauma for the rest of our lives.”
Payano-Sanchez pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal homicide, one count of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, and possessing a weapon of crime.
The judge also ordered him to repay more than $11,000 in reparation. He will also have no communication with his relatives.
Leave a Reply