San Antonio, TX – Joseph Aleman has been sentenced to 56 years in prison after being convicted of the murder of his friend Victor Ochoa. The 34-year-old man fatally stabbed Ochoa multiple times with a sword on August 26, 2022, before calling 911 to report the incident.

Aleman was found guilty of the crime, which led to the sentencing announced by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. Following the stabbing, he made strange statements to authorities, including mentioning he had found the “stairway to heaven.”

Upon arrival, officers found Ochoa’s body, who had suffered fatal injuries sustained from a sword. Aleman led officers to the scene and was subsequently arrested.

Police discovered Aleman had an outstanding warrant for a kidnapping charge stemming from an incident with an ex-girlfriend in April. He had allegedly held her captive in his home, driven by paranoia over unfounded suspicions regarding his mother.

Initially ruled incompetent to stand trial, Aleman was later deemed competent after treatment at a state hospital. His murder trial concluded successfully, with an upcoming trial scheduled for January 2026 concerning the kidnapping charge.

Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales expressed pride in the prosecution team’s commitment to bringing the case to justice.

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