A 17-year-old boy was sentenced to life in prison with all but 50 years suspended for the MS-13 gang-related slaying of a 14-year-old girl.
Josue Fuentes-Ponce pleaded guilty Oct. 30 to first-degree murder, participating in and committing the murder as part of a criminal gang, and conspiracy to commit murder.
He and three others lured Ariana Funes-Diaz into woods in Riverdale, Maryland, and beat and stabbed her to death, prosecutors said.
They were afraid the girl would tell authorities about a robbery they allegedly committed the day before, Prince George's County police said.
Fuentes-Ponce used a machete on the victim during the attack, prosecutors said.
Her family reported her missing before her body was found floating in a stream under a bridge last May almost a month after she was killed.
The murder was so violent, police had to use a tattoo on the victim's right hand to identify her remains.
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Joel Escobar, 18, pleaded guilty Nov. 25 and is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 26. Edwin Rios' trial is scheduled to begin April 13. Charges against a 14-year-old girl were handled in juvenile court.
