In a chilling case of cold-blooded murder, Anthony Santiesteban, 32, of Centereach, was found guilty in the 2022 killing of an East Patchogue mother. Surveillance footage from the early morning hours of October 29, 2022, shows Santiesteban conversing with Martina Thompson, 33, by his Jeep Cherokee in a Coram parking lot. He then followed her into a fenced area where a gunshot was recorded at approximately 1:03 a.m. Santiesteban emerged holding a semi-automatic handgun and drove away, leaving Thompson fatally wounded. She was discovered by police with a gunshot wound to her face and later pronounced dead at Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue.
The investigation quickly identified Santiesteban as the suspect, leading to a search of his home on November 2, 2022. Police recovered a defaced 9mm handgun, and ballistics tests confirmed it was the weapon used to kill Thompson.
On June 24, 2024, Santiesteban was convicted of multiple charges, including Murder in the Second Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.
He will face up to 25 years to life in prison when sentenced on August 1, 2024.
“This defendant’s deliberate and selfish act of violence robbed Martina Thompson of her life and left a gaping hole in the lives of her loved ones,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney in a statement. “I thank the jury for their time and careful attention to this case, and I thank the investigators and prosecutors for their dedication to getting justice for Martina and her family.”
