In a letter read moments before she was sentenced to 22 years in prison Monday, Reina Gonzales said she was “heart-broken and ashamed” for her role in the deaths of two small children three years ago.
Gonzales went on to say she has given her life over to God.
The length of Gonzales’ sentence came as no surprise as it was part of the plea agreement she entered last August.
Gonzales, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of her boyfriend’s oldest two children, Ariana Payne, 3, and Tyler Payne, 4.
According to prosecutors, Gonzales did nothing to help the children after Christopher Payne, 30, locked them up in a bedroom closet and starved them to death over the course of a several weeks.
Once they died, Payne stored the children's remains in garbage bags for months before placing them in a 25-gallon plastic tub and taking them to a storage unit on East Prince Road. An autopsy revealed Ariana had suffered 12 broken ribs and a broken shoulder bone in the weeks or months before she died.
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On Feb. 18, 2007 a storage facility manager decided to clean out a unit that hadn't been paid for for months. Inside the unit, the manager found a foul smelling 25-gallon plastic tub that she dumped into a trash bin. She called police and they found Ariana's remains stuffed inside.
Payne was linked to the storage unit two weeks later. Tyler’s body was never found.
Gonzales was required to testify against Christopher Payne as part of her plea agreement.
Jurors convicted Payne of two counts of first-degree murder March 17 and sentenced him to death after deciding the age of the children, the way they died and the fact there was more than one victim warranted it.
Payne will be sentenced Thursday on three child abuse and two concealment of a dead human body counts by Judge Richard Fields of Pima County Superior Court.
The children’s mother, Jamie Hallam, was not present when Gonzales was sentenced.
Christopher Payne’s stepmother, Patricia Payne, was allowed to speak as a victim representative.
“As far as I’m concerned the sentence given to Reina is very light,” Patricia Payne said.
If anything, Gonzales should have to serve two consecutive 22-year sentences, she said.
When Judge Paul Tang explained the sentence was part of the plea agreement, Patricia Payne said she understood.
“I also understand she lies,” Patricia Payne said of Gonzales. “There was a lot of testimony (at trial) she lied about.”
Patricia Payne said everything she looks at Christopher Payne Jr., the son Gonzales bore Christopher Payne, she is reminded of what’s happened.
“It’s been devastating,” Patricia Payne said.
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