LANCASTER, PA – A West Hempfield Township man will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting his estranged wife and her aunt, and seriously wounding his son during a violent argument at his home last fall.
Santiago Payano-Sanchez, 64, was sentenced Tuesday to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 20 to 40 years in state prison. Lancaster County Judge Jeffrey Conrad imposed the sentence following Payano-Sanchez’s guilty plea to two counts of criminal homicide and one count each of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, and possession of an instrument of crime.
Prosecutors said the shooting unfolded on the evening of October 5 at Payano-Sanchez’s home on the 2100 block of Oak Hollow Drive. The incident began as a family dispute over who would make dinner and escalated when Payano-Sanchez retrieved a firearm and opened fire. His estranged wife, Ana Gutierrez-Cedano, 59, and her aunt, Dominga Cedano-Cedano, 74, were killed. His 33-year-old son was shot in the stomach while trying to disarm him but survived.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo told the court the killings were “senseless and heinous,” describing how Payano-Sanchez first shot his wheelchair-bound wife before turning the gun on his son and then fatally shooting Cedano-Cedano upstairs. Two children, ages 2 and 7, were present in the home but were not physically harmed.
During sentencing, Payano-Sanchez, speaking through an interpreter, offered no clear motive for the rampage but asked his family for forgiveness, acknowledging he must face the punishment imposed by law. Family members of the victims submitted emotional statements describing the lasting pain and trauma caused by the murders.
- Santiago Payano-Sanchez, 64, pleaded guilty to killing two relatives and wounding his son.
- He received two consecutive life sentences plus 20–40 years in state prison.
- Prosecutors said the shooting stemmed from a domestic argument that turned deadly.
Judge Conrad commended West Hempfield Township Police and the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office for their thorough investigation and prosecution. Payano-Sanchez was also ordered to pay more than $11,000 in restitution and is barred from contacting surviving victims.
