A National City man was sentenced June 23 to 16 years to life in prison for stabbing his wife to death in 2015 and was ordered to pay $3,806 for her funeral expenses.
Angelica Vargas Hernandez, 38, was found stabbed at the base of her neck on Dec. 29, 2015 at a home in the 2500 block of I Avenue in National City. Her husband, Jose Hernandez Cruz, 44, called 911 at 10:13 p.m., and he was arrested by National City Police.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Ana Espana imposed 15 years to life for Cruz’s guilty plea to second-degree murder and added one year consecutively for the use of a knife as a deadly weapon. He received 543 days of jail credits and was fined $10,224.
The victim’s sister and other family members were present and their letters were read in court via a Spanish speaking interpreter. The sister wrote “I have not been able to get over her death.”
The couple had five children, and the interpreter read many of their letters to the judge in court. “I feel bad for what happened to my mom. I miss her. I know she is resting in peace in heaven,” wrote one of the children.
“Everytime I see someone with their mom…I feel very sad,” wrote one child.
“I will always have her in my heart. I will always love her,” wrote another child about her mother.
Deputy District Attorney Samira Seidu said Cruz didn’t express remorse when he was interviewed by the probation department for the sentencing report. Seidu said “he’s been focused on himself.”
“Mr. Cruz is remorseful,” said his attorney, Kara Oien. “He can’t get over what he did.”
The children are being cared for by family members. They were with relatives the night their mother died.
