Thread: Russian man gets life in prison for killing ex-girlfriend in Phoenix

POSTED: AUG 25 2017 05:10PM MST
UPDATED: AUG 25 2017 05:48PM MST

A convicted killer who was arrested while trying to flee Arizona, was sentenced to life in prison for the death of his estranged girlfriend. Igor Zubko was arrested at Sky Harbor Airport after buying a one-way ticket to San Francisco.

This case has received national attention because Zubko, a Russian immigrant, was in the country illegally.

In 2015, Zubko plotted the murder, shot and killed 22-year-old Shayley Estes, an Arizona State University student.

Zubko immigrated from Russia and overstayed his student visa. Prosecutors say he desperately wanted to become an American citizen and Shayley had agreed to help him. She ultimately ended the relationship and got a restraining order against Zubko.



Zubko sent a text message to Shayley's roommate, saying she would "be brutally murdered from Russia with love." Then he illegally purchased a gun and waited at Shayley's south Phoenix home. When she returned from work, Zubko shot her five times -- three times in her back.

He wrote a letter to the judge and did not make a statement during the hearing.

Zubko's family flew in from Russia and more than a dozen members of Shayley's family were at the sentencing.

"It's all the justice we can get right now.. there really truly is no justice when your child doesn't come home," said Shayley's mother, Shannon Estes.

Shayley's cousin, Nicole Liebenow added, "What he did was despicable and something that could've been avoided.. we need to watch for these illegal immigrants that come in our country and cause these crimes because this should have never happened."

Shayley's family has set up a memorial scholarship in her name to continue her drive to help others. She majored in chemistry at ASU and hoped to help develop cures for diseases some day.

Zubko will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole.

Nicole Garcia Fox10‏Verified account
@Fox10_NicoleG
"There is no end to our suffering...I'm asking for the max sentence in honor of my sweet Shayley"- Victim's mom at sentencing #fox10phoenix
2:20 PM - 25 Aug 2017 from Phoenix, AZ

Nicole Garcia Fox10‏Verified account
@Fox10_NicoleG
Family of murdered ASU grad, Shayley Estes, prays before sentencing of boyfriend, who pled guilty to killing her #fox10phoenix

2:01 PM - 25 Aug 2017

http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/ari...76163797-story

Great...another ILLEGAL alien that WE have to pay for behind bars!

"Zubko immigrated from Russia and overstayed his student visa"

No more Student Visa's for the next 20 years! Deport the ones who have overstayed.

Sickening. GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!! NOW. All of them, they all have to go. ALL. Every last one of them, no exceptions, no mercy, no excuses. GET THEM OUT NOW.

See, we can arrested and convict lawbreakers who are illegal.

That is why the idea of local law enforcement releasing law breakers because they are illegal is just a lie.

They actually release criminals BECAUSE they are illegal. I just can't wrap my mind around that kind of logic What I really can't understand is why we are putting up with it.

Originally Posted by nntrixie

See, we can arrested and convict lawbreakers who are illegal.

That is why the idea of local law enforcement releasing law breakers because they are illegal is just a lie.

They actually release criminals BECAUSE they are illegal. I just can't wrap my mind around that kind of logic What I really can't understand is why we are putting up with it.

They're on the take with the drug cartels behind illegal immigration.

Originally Posted by Judy

They're on the take with the drug cartels behind illegal immigration.

Oh, I think it is much worse and much more pervasive than just the drug cartels.

It is standard practice in the law enforcement and judicial system in Texas, so I'm assuming it's not that far off in other places.

It's in our welfare system, our education system, etc.

A lot of the reason could be drugs all right but not the drug cartels, as we know them. It goes all through our economy and our judicial system. The so called drug cartels don't have that much money or that much muscle.