A Centereach man has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for shooting an East Patchogue mother to death two years ago.
In the early morning hours of October 29, 2022, surveillance video captured Anthony Santiesteban and Martina Thompson, 33, engaging in a conversation next to Santiesteban’s Jeep Cherokee in a parking lot in Coram. Santiesteban was then seen on video following Thompson into a fenced area at the rear of the parking lot. Immediately afterwards, at approximately 1:03 a.m., a gunshot is heard on the video recording, and Santiesteban was captured walking out of the fenced area with a semi-automatic handgun in his hand. He then entered his Jeep and left the scene.
At 1:25 a.m., the police found Thompson with a gunshot wound to her face, lying in a pool of blood. She was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue, where she was pronounced dead.
On November 2, 2022, police searched Santiesteban’s bedroom pursuant to a search warrant 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 the bedroom.
On June 24, 2024, Santiesteban, 32, was convicted of the following charges after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft Jr.:
- one count of second-degree murder, a Class A felony
- two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both Class C violent felonies
- one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D violent felony
On August 1, 2024, Senft sentenced Santiesteban to 40 years to life in prison.
“This defendant deliberately took the life of Martina Thompson, whose children will now have to live without their mother,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Murder does not just end one life, it devastates families, friends, and entire communities. While no punishment can ever truly compensate for the loss of a loved one, this sentence ensures the defendant will face severe consequences for this grievous act and will no longer pose a danger to the public.”
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