A Centereach man faces up to 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty for killing an East Patchogue woman two years ago.
Surveillance video shown during the trial captured Anthony Santiesteban, 32, conversing with the victim, Martina Thompson, next to his Jeep Cherokee in a parking lot in Coram on October 29, 2022. The video later showed Santiesteban following Thompson into a fenced area at the rear of the parking lot. At approximately 1:03 am, a gunshot is heard on the recording and the video captures Santiesteban walking out of the area with a semi-automatic handgun in his hand. He later entered his Jeep and left the scene.
At 1:25 a.m., police found Thompson with a gunshot wound to her face, laying in a pool of blood. She was transported to Long Island Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
After being granted a warrant four days later, police searched Santiesteban’s bedroom and recovered a loaded and defaced 9-millimeter handgun. Ballistics testing confirmed the bullet casing found next to the victim’s body came from the gun found in his house.
On June 24, 2024, Santiesteban was convicted of the following charges:
- one count of second-degree murder, a Class A felony
- two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class C violent felonies
- one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D violent felony
Thanking the jury, investigators, and prosecutors for their time and careful attention to the case, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney stated, “This defendant deliberately and selfishly extinguished the life of Martina Thompson, a young mother.”
Santiesteban is due back in court for sentencing on August 1 and faces up to 25 years to life in prison.