A Florida jury has recommended the death penalty for a man convicted in the fatal beating of a woman eight years ago near Miami.
Ronald Lopez Andrade was found guilty last week by the same jury for raping and killing 30-year-old Yaimi Guevara Machado, who was found naked and covered in blood in a grassy area of a Hialeah motel.
On Wednesday evening, the jury voted 8 to 4 for death as a potential punishment, reports NBC affiliate WTVJ.
Andrade was found to have committed first-degree murder while he was engaged in the sexual battery of the victim.
In April 2016, police arrested Andrade, an illegal alien from Honduras living in the U.S. for less than a year, for the woman’s killing.
At the time, the police report stated the victim was at the motel with a friend, reported ABC affiliate WPLG.
Andrade, who bought four beers and cigarettes that night, was seen in the lobby harassing a cleaning lady and the clerk and asked if there were prostitutes at the motel.
Police said the victim was accidentally locked out of the room wearing only a bra and jeans.
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However, Machado’s family told the outlet she was with her boyfriend and they got into a fight before finding themselves locked out of the room. The boyfriend apparently went to get a new key but didn’t return and left her stranded.
Investigators said Andrade noticed Machado was alone and started chatting with her, providing the woman his shirt to wear.
But after Machado refused his sexual advances, Andrade flew into a rage and they began to struggle. He then straddled his victim, beat her and stopped her from screaming by covering her mouth.
Cops said he removed her pants when she was no longer moving in an attempt to have sex, but he was unable to get an erection.
Noticing there was blood coming from her face, Andrade quickly left the area.
Machado’s naked body was found in a grassy area of the motel’s property with her clothes nearby.
More than a year later, the motel was ordered to pay $12 million to the victim’s family after a jury found the staff was negligent and could have prevented her death, WPLG reported.