Santiago Payano-Sanchez, a 64-year-old Pennsylvania man, received two consecutive life sentences without parole for the murders of his estranged wife and her aunt during a domestic dispute.
Incident Details
The shootings occurred on October 5, 2025, at the family home on Oak Hollow Drive in West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, about 90 miles west of Philadelphia. An argument over who would cook dinner escalated when Payano-Sanchez grabbed a gun and shot his wheelchair-bound wife, 59-year-old Ana Gutierrez-Cedano; he then shot his 33-year-old son who intervened, and finally killed 74-year-old Dominga Cedano-Cedano upstairs.
Legal Outcome
On January 29, 2026, Payano-Sanchez pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal homicide, plus attempted homicide, aggravated assault, endangering children, and possessing an instrument of crime before Judge Jeffrey Conrad. He was also sentenced to an additional 20-40 years, ordered to pay over $11,000 in restitution, and barred from family contact.
Court Proceedings
Assistant DA Jessica Collo described the act as a “senseless” escalation to a “heinous crime.” Payano-Sanchez expressed remorse through an interpreter, unable to explain the violence but asking forgiveness. Victim impact letters highlighted lifelong trauma, PTSD, and irreplaceable loss for the families.
Aftermath
The son survived with bullet fragments still in his body; two young children (ages 2 and 7) in the home were unharmed. Police took Payano-Sanchez into custody after he barricaded himself and surrendered following a 911 call.
