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January 19. 2007 12:00AM

Rivera pleads guilty to murder

John Harbin
Times-News Staff Writer
john.harbin@hendersonvillenews.com


Joel Zelaya Rivera

A Honduran man who shot and killed his wife and shot his 15-month-old son last year was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder Thursday.

Joel Zelaya Rivera, 26, of 235 Adeles Way in the Alpine Woods Mobile Home Park, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder in September after he killed Gloria Silos-Zelaya and shot 15-month-old Gurlean Joel Silos. The toddler has since recovered.

Henderson County Assistant District Attorney Charles Walker told the court the officers who arrived at the mobile home park on Sept. 24, 2006, found Gloria Silos dead in front of the mobile home the couple shared.

"She died as a result of three gunshot wounds to her neck and head," Walker told the court.

Rivera fled after shooting his wife. He later returned and placed his critically injured son next to his wife's body before authorities arrived, Walker said.

"The defendant was located 12 hours later walking on foot several miles from where the incident occurred," Walker said.

Superior Court Judge James Downs sentenced Rivera to life in prison for the first-degree murder charge and a minimum of eight additional years in prison for the attempted murder charge.

"If he is ever released from prison, he is to be immediately deported to his native land (Honduras) and is forbidden to enter the borders of the United States for the rest of his natural live," Downs said.

Rivera apologized to the court and his family for what he did.

"I didn't understand what I was doing," Rivera told the court through an interpreter. "I want to ask forgiveness from my wife's family. I know it is a great loss to them."

Former Henderson County Sheriff's Office Detective Erik Summey said Rivera's legal status as a U.S. citizen was never determined.