Add The California Post on Google A jilted teen lover has admitted to shooting dead four people in a heinous revenge killing before torching their Lancaster home in an attempt to hide his disturbing crimes.
Miguel Diego Sandoval, who was just 19 at the time of the grisly slayings in 2024, entered a guilty plea to the horrendous crimes Friday.
Sandoval, now 21, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and lying in wait — he now faces life in prison.
Sandoval creepily lingered out his ex boyfriend’s home on North Tabler Avenue on November 16 and waited until everyone was asleep. He then broke into the home and opened fire, killing Janvi Maquindang, 21, Christine Aca-ac, 25, Edwin Garcia, 24, and Matthew Montebello, 21.
“This was a calculated act of violence that left a void for the victims’ families that can never be filled. Rest assured this guilty plea will result in a lifetime prison sentence,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said Friday.
The victims “were callously shot as they peacefully slept in their beds,” former DA George Gascón said in 2024.
After gunning down the victims, Sandoval torched the house in a desperate bid to cover his tracks. Three dogs were also shot dead before the heartless jilted lover set the house on fire, authorities said.
“The defendant was jilted when he broke up with his boyfriend and then did something unimaginable when he killed four innocent people,” the DA added.
Authorities revealed the deadly rampage was driven by bitter vengeance following a messy romantic fallout between Sandoval and an unnamed male family member of the victims.
Inside the blaze, a terrified 16-year-old girl was trapped in a locked bedroom with flames rapidly closing in. The brave teen managed to dial 911, prompting Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies to rescue the survivor the burning building.
Montebello was rescued from the burning building and rushed to a local hospital, but died from his injuries.
Montebello’s mother, Maria, told ABC7 she recognized Sandoval as an ex-boyfriend of one of the younger siblings who lived at the home, but said she had never met him. It was not clear if the ex was one of those murdered.
Montebello had just recently celebrated his 21st birthday, and had dinner with his mother the night before he was killed.
“I want him to be remembered as a kind, loving child. Very respectful, caring, as a brother, as a gentle soul, very smart, very talented,” she said. “Him and his friends were making music … that’s how they hung out. They tried to be creative.”
Sandoval also admitted to felony counts of attempted murder, first-degree residential burglary, arson of an inhabited property, three counts of animal cruelty, and two counts of child abuse under conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.
He will be sentenced on November 17 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
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