Two men who were sentenced to death more than ten years ago for the brutal murder of a West Palm Beach family on the Turnpike have had their sentences changed to life in prison.
Early Monday morning, outgoing President Joe Biden announced numerous commutations for federal death row inmates. Among those whose executions were canceled are Ricardo Sanchez, Jr. and Daniel Troya, who were convicted of shooting and killing a mother, father, and their two young children.
The murders took place early on the morning of October 13, 2006, when the two men stopped the Escobedo family’s Jeep Cherokee on the Turnpike, just outside of Fort Pierce. Jose Luis Escobedo, Luis Damian Escobedo, Luis Julian Escobedo, and Yessica Guerrero Escobedo were all shot and left at the scene. Sanchez and Troya then fled in both their Dodge Ram van and the Escobedo family’s black Jeep Cherokee.
A search of the Escobedo family’s home led investigators to suspect that Jose Luis Escobedo was involved in cocaine trafficking. Further investigation revealed ties between Escobedo, Sanchez, Troya, and a third individual, Danny Varela.
Acting on this information, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the homes of the three men in West Palm Beach. During the search, officers uncovered over a kilogram of cocaine, about 30 grams of crack cocaine, and 30 ecstasy tablets. In addition to the drugs, they found a cache of firearms, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
As a result of the discovery, Sanchez, Troya, and Varela were arrested and charged in connection with the drugs and weapons. Two other individuals, Liana Lopez and Jose Gutierrez, were also apprehended. In May 2009, Sanchez and Troya were convicted on 11 charges, which included four counts related to the murders of the Escobedo family. They were sentenced to life in prison with an additional five years of supervised release, alongside a death sentence.
However, their executions were commuted by the Biden Administration on Monday, December 23, 2024.
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