After deliberating nearly 30 hours over five days, a Pima County jury convicted a 64-year-old Tucson man Wednesday in the death of an elderly Sahuarita woman two years ago.
Edward Terrazas Villa will be sentenced to life in prison with or without the possibility of parole next month by Pima County Superior Court Judge John Leonardo.
Robin Satinsky, who was 89, was reported missing in late October 2007 after worried family members and friends couldn't reach her for several days.
Satinsky's car was found in a parking lot near South 12th Avenue and West Valencia Road in Tucson on Nov. 7 and her body was found seven months later by a motorcyclist who broke down south of Pima Mine Road.
Satinsky was clothed only in a nightgown and socks. Her legs and mouth had been duct-taped, and an autopsy revealed she'd been strangled.
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Deputy Pima County Attorney Richard Wintory told jurors detectives learned Villa had been doing work for Satinsky, and he'd once been arrested for stealing her car, although he'd never been prosecuted for that crime.
In addition, they learned Villa worked across the street from where Satinsky's car was found, and his DNA was found in the car.
Artwork and tea services belonging to Satinsky were also found in Villa's storage unit, Wintory said.
The prosecutor argued Villa killed Satinsky to cover up the fact he'd stolen her car a second time.
Assistant County Public Defender Kyle Ipson told jurors Villa didn't kill Satinsky, nor did he ever steal her car.
Villa had been given permission to drive Satinsky's car, but he kept it a few days longer than he should have, Ipson said. The defense attorney noted the car was stolen two years before Satinsky disappeared and their relationship continued without any problems in the meantime.
Ipson also told jurors investigators didn't swab the entire steering wheel and could have missed someone else's DNA.
In addition to the murder charge, the jury also convicted Villa of stealing the victim's car in 2005.
