Alberto Gaytan | Homicide Watch Chicago

Alberto Gaytan gets 30 years for fatally stabbing his ex, Maria Gonzalez, on Thanksgiving in 2013

Jeff Mayes — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 12:28:13 -0500

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Alberto Gaytan | Illinois Dept. of Corrections

A man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Maria Gonzalez, to death outside her Northwest Side home on Thanksgiving Day in 2013.

Alberto Gaytan pleaded guilty to murder on Wednesday before Judge Erica Reddick, according to Cook County court records.

Gaytan stabbed his the 39-year-old Gonzalez about 5 a.m. Nov. 28, 2013, in the 4800 block of North Moody, authorities said.

Gaytan and Gonzalez had previously dated and had a four-year-old child together, according to court documents. About two months before her death, she had moved out of their home and into a basement apartment on Moody Avenue.

Gaytan had threatened to kill her if she left him for another man, and she did not tell him her new address, prosecutors said.

But on that Thanksgiving morning, Gaytan approached Gonzalez outside her new home as she left for work, authorities said. He grabbed her as she was about to get into her car and threw her to the ground, then stabbed her 11 times in the face and body.

One of the lacerations across her neck was almost deep enough to decapitate her, prosecutors said.

Police found Gonzalez in the street and she was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. An autopsy confirmed she died of multiple stab and incise wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Judge Reddick sentenced Gaytan to 30 years in prison, according to court records. He will receive credit for 987 days served in the Cook County Jail, and will have to serve three years of supervised release.

UPDATE: Alberto Gaytan stabbed ex-girlfriend 11 times outside her Northwest Side apartment, prosecutors said

Michael Lansu — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 15:50:30 -0600

Alberto Gaytan / Photo from Chicago Police

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Alberto Gaytan stabbed his ex-girlfriend 11 times -- nearly decapitating her -- Thanksgiving morning outside her Northwest Side home, prosecutors said.

Gaytan, 42, is accused of attacking Maria Gonzalez about 5 a.m. Nov. 28 in the 4800 block of North Moody Avenue, authorities said.

Gonzalez and Gaytan previously dated, and the two had a 4-year-old child, according to court documents. About two months ago, she moved out of their home and into a basement apartment on Moody Avenue, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Maura White said.

Gaytan threatened to kill her if she left him for another man, and she did not tell him her new address, White said.

The morning of the attack, Gaytan approached Gonzalez outside her new home as she left for work, authorities said. He grabbed her as she was about to get in her car and threw her to the ground, White said.

Gaytan stabbed her “approximately 11 times about the face and body, including a deep laceration across the neck that was deep enough to almost decapitate the victim,” White said.

Police found Gonzalez in the street and she was declared dead on the scene, authorities said. An autopsy confirmed she died of multiple stab and incised wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Witnesses heard Gonzalez scream and saw a man matching Gaytan’s description take her purse and flee in a red Chevrolet Cavalier, according to court documents.

Gaytan’s red Cavalier had the woman’s blood on the steering wheel, door and window, White said. Police later arrested Gaytan at his home.

He told officers he did not know where his ex-girlfriend lived, but was found to be in possession of a card with her new address written on the back, White said.

Gaytan entered the country illegally and was turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on an active illegal re-entry, White said. Gaytan was previously deported in 2008.

When DNA taken from the blood in the car matched that of Gonzalez an arrest warrant for the murder was issued, according to court documents.

Gaytan, 42, of the 3000 block of West Ainslie Street, was taken into custody Dec. 11 and charged with first-degree murder, authorities said.

He appeared before Judge Israel Desierto in a black sweatshirt and blue jeans. He was ordered held without bond and given a next court date of Jan. 2.

Gaytan has lived in Chicago for 25 years and has worked at Al’s Beef the past seven years, his public defender said. He has only attended grammar school and lives here with his family.

Alberto Gaytan charged with murder in Northwest Side stabbing death of Maria Gonzalez

Michael Lansu — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 09:48:48 -0600

Alberto Gaytan / Photo from Chicago Police

Alberto Gaytan has been charged with murder for allegedly stabbing a woman to death during a Thanksgiving Day domestic attack on the Northwest Side.

Gaytan, 42, of the 3000 block of West Ainslie Street, is accused of killing 39-year-old Maria Gonzalez on Nov. 28, authorities said. Police believe the attack is domestic related.

Police found Gonzalez in the street near her home in the 4800 block of North Moody Avenue about 5 a.m., authorities said. She was declared dead on the scene a short time later.

An autopsy determined she died from multiple stab and incised wounds and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Gaytan is scheduled to appear in bond court later Thursday.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire