A Florida man, Jose Soto-Escalera, has been sentenced to death for the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Tania Wise, and their unborn child in 2018.
The sentence was handed down on Friday, October 10, 2025, by Judge Lawrence Mirman after years of court proceedings.
 |
| Jose Soto-Escalera on court |
In August 2018, the body of 23-year-old Tania Wise was discovered in a ditch along a rural road in northern St. Lucie County.
Wise, who was eight and a half months pregnant at the time, was found lying face-down in the ditch.
An autopsy later showed that she suffered severe head trauma and a deep 19-centimeter cut to her neck, as per Court TV.
DNA evidence later confirmed that Soto-Escalera was the father of the unborn child, identified as Josiah.
According to prosecutors, Soto-Escalera killed Wise to hide their affair and prevent his wife from finding out about the pregnancy.
Law&Crime reported that Tania had initially asked Soto-Escalera to give her money so that she could get an abortion, and everything will remain a secret.
He eventually gave her $500 for the procedure but Tania gave the money out instead of using it for its purpose.
This reportedly upset Soto-Escalera, and according to court documents, he started asking about "dirty guns"
After a thorough investigation, Soto-Escalera, who was 41 years old at the time, was arrested 28 days after Wise’s body was found.
The evidence against him was overwhelming, and this included included recorded conversations in which he allegedly discussed about disposing of the body and destroying evidence.
“The evidence showed premeditation and intent,” said Assistant State Attorney Donald Richardson. He also added that Wise’s death was not a crime of passion but a carefully planned act meant to erase a secret.
 |
| Tania Wise |
 |
| Tania Wise |
Even though the crime happened in 2018, Jose Soto-Escalera’s case went to court seven years later, in 2025.
After a week-long trial, jurors found Soto-Escalera guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in September 2025 — one for Tania Wise and another for her unborn son.
The jury deliberated for about one hour before reaching their decision and later voted 8–4 in favor of recommending the death penalty.
The trial featured graphic autopsy photos and emotional testimony from Wise’s family.
Defense attorneys argued for life imprisonment, citing his clean criminal record and good behavior in jail over the past seven years.
Additionally, mitigation specialist Shari Schwartz testified about Soto-Escalera’s difficult upbringing.
She explained that his mother, Carmen Escalera, was only 14 years old when she met his 20-year-old father. Schwartz said that Soto-Escalera’s childhood was surrounded by violence and neglect.
She said he also lived in public housing at a young age, where Jose witnessed gang activity and substance abuse.
Despite that, she said, he worked steadily and had no history of violent behavior before this crime.
“He showed genuine remorse for Tania and their unborn child,” Schwartz told the court. “He said she was a nice person who didn’t deserve what happened.”
But the jury — and later the judge — were not moved. Instead, they agreed with prosecutors that the aggravating factors outweighed any mitigating evidence.
Before sentencing, the court held a Spencer hearing, where Soto-Escalera made a surprising move by trying to fire his defense attorney, Tom Burns.
He accused Burns of working against him, but Judge Mirman dismissed the claim, noting that the hearing had already included extensive mitigation evidence and that there was no conflict of interest.
After reviewing the jury’s recommendation and hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Mirman gave Soto-Escalera his punishment.
“Therefore, Jose Soto-Escalera, I hereby sentence you to death for the first-degree murder of Tania Wise. I also independently sentence you to death for the first-degree murder of her unborn child,” Judge Mirman declared.
The judge acknowledged the complexity of the case, including Soto-Escalera’s difficult background, but concluded that the brutality of the crime and the motive — silencing a pregnant woman to hide an affair — justified the death penalty.
Assistant State Attorney Richardson supported the ruling, saying that justice had been served for Wise and her unborn child.
Defense attorney Burns, meanwhile, expressed disappointment, noting that Soto-Escalera had been a model prisoner and had no prior criminal record.
While the death sentence brings a close to a case that lasted more than seven years, the Wise’s family continues to mourn the loss of their daughter and grandson, who were taken too soon.
For more true crime stories and updates on other high-profile cases sign up for our free newsletter here.
Comments
Post a Comment