A teenager was sentenced to 36 years in prison on Thursday in the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old man in a Thornton park.
Matthew James Trujillo was 17 when he stabbed Anthony Benavidez to death in a January 2014 encounter. Trujillo, now 18, was angry at Benavidez over him having contact with Trujillo’s sister and girlfriend.
Trujillo was wearing metallic knuckles with a built-in blade when he stabbed Benavidez in the throat, killing him, according to the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Officials say Trujillo “lured” him to the park where he died.
The office says Benavidez died in the arms of his mother, Teresa Benavidez, who had gone to the park looking for her son when she witnessed the stabbing.
Prosecutors say Teresa Benavidez tried frantically to stop the bleeding. She told a judge her son’s last words were: “Help me, Mommy.”
Trujillo, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in January, was initially charged with first-degree murder as an adult. Under a plea agreement, that charge was dropped to second-degree murder.
Trujillo initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Prosecutors had asked for the maximum 48-year sentence, the district attorney’s office said.
Trujillo’s father, Brian Carl Trujillo, 40, has also been charged in the fatal stabbing. He faces allegations of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, tampering with evidence and accessory to a crime.
Brian Trujillo’s trial is set for June 4, officials said.
The stabbing happened on Jan. 4, 2014 near Grand View Ponds Open Space.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
