Salem Man Sentenced in Fatal August Stabbing

Defendant pleads guilty in Salem stabbing case‏.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - A Salem man named Juan Vasquez-Cruz, pleaded guilty Monday in the stabbing death of Martin Cruz-Bote. Judge Susan Tripp of the Marion County Circuit Court presided over the plea and sentencing.

The story began shortly after 8:00 p.m. on August 12th, 2008, when Salem Police officers responded to 1969 Hawthorne Ave NE, Apartment 28, on a reported stabbing. (see: Stabbing Death in NE Salem Still Under Investigation

When they arrived they discovered that Martin Cruz-Bote had been stabbed. Medics transported Mr. Cruz-Bote to the Salem Hospital, where he later died.

The Salem Police Department conducted an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the homicide. Mr. Vasquez-Cruz was arrested in connection with Mr. Cruz-Bote's death.

The Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office reports that they performed an autopsy on August 14th, 2008. The cause of death was determined to be a stab wound. The manner of death was homicide.

The police investigation by Detectives Jamie Vasas and Garon Boyce revealed that Mr. Vasquez-Cruz had previously lived at the apartment with Mr. Cruz-Bote and still had belongings at the apartment at the time of the homicide.

Mr. Vasquez-Cruz returned to the apartment to collect his belongings and brought a knife with him. There was an altercation involving the belongings. Martin Cruz-Bote was married and had five minor children.

Following the stabbing, tje defendant avoided police contact until August 19, 2008, when he was arrested. Defendant pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, which is a Ballot Measure 11 crime with a presumptive sentence of 120 months in prison.

However, the defendant agreed to, and the court imposed, a sentence of 210 months, which is 17.5 years. Defendant may not earn credit for good time or early release.