Killer sentenced for life plus 30 years

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) -- Armando Garcia was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison on Tuesday for the murder of his girlfriend Brooke Verdoia.

Garcia was found guilty in October of 2012 after the State proved that on June 26, 2010, Garcia brutally attacked and murdered 30-year-old Brooke Verdoia in her home while her young child slept nearby.

“I feel that I let Brooke down as a parent because a parent is the person who is supposed to protect her children,” said Verdoia’s mother.

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The victim’s mother said that she is the one who discovered Verdoia’s bloody body. 

According to evidence provided in court, Verdoia died from eight separate trauma injuries and seven stab wounds . After killing her in the living room, Garcia then moved her body to the bedroom where the State proved he had staged a rape and robbery.

During the investigation it was revealed that Pawtucket Police located Verdoia’s car parked near Garcia’s grandmother’s house. A witness testified that while he was cleaning Garcia’s car, he saw blood inside.

Blood evidence was also found on Garcia’s clothes.

Garcia was arrested and gave conflicting accounts to police about the incident on June 26, finally admitting he killed Verdoia.

“The severity of this crime is multiplied by the fact that this defendant beat Brooke Lee Verdoia while her baby lay in her crib just feet way.  Madison was only a toddler when Armando Garcia took her mother from her in such a brutal manner,” said Attorney General Kilmartin.

• Related: Toddler witnessed Pawtucket murder

Garcia was sentenced to life in prison for her murder, 5 years to serve for previous crimes, plus 25 years for being a habitual offender.

He has 14 prior convictions, was sent to jail six times before, had eight arrest warrants issued and was put on probation 8 times.