A man who gunned down a former co-worker, whose body was found encased in concrete in a Santa Fe Springs auto repair shop, was sentenced Monday to 50 years to life in prison.
Juan Alberto Galvez, 49, was convicted Oct. 23 of first-degree murder for the Dec. 23, 2012, shooting death of Guillermo “William” Diaz. Galvez was also convicted of misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine.
Galvez shot Diaz, 38, at a skylight manufacturing business where the two had once worked together. He then encased the body in cement and buried it beneath a makeshift shower he built at an auto repair business where he worked, in the same industrial park.
Diaz’s body was unearthed eight days later, after Galvez’s brother-in- law went to police to report his suspicion that Galvez might have been involved in the victim’s disappearance, according to Deputy District Attorney Steven Schreiner.
Witnesses said Galvez had grown resentful toward Diaz after being fired from the skylight business.
Two witnesses testified that Galvez had made threats against Diaz and another employee who worked there, Schreiner said.
Galvez bought shotgun shells earlier that day while wearing a disguise, but told police he shot Diaz in self-defense, according to the prosecutor.
Galvez was arrested by Whittier police the day Diaz’s body was discovered.
— Wire reports