…By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media.
Christopher Prestipino, a man from Las Vegas, has been sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison for the murder of Esmeralda Gonzalez, a 24-year-old glamour model.
Court records show that Prestipino pleaded guilty to felony kidnapping and murder in March 2021 via an ‘Alford plea’, which treats the defendant as guilty without having to admit guilt.
According to court documents, Gonzalez was injected with muriatic acid and strangled to death after being tied to a bedpost by Prestipino and his roommate, Casanra Garrett, in May 2019.
Her remains were found encased in concrete and dumped in a desert north of Vegas in October 2019.
Reports suggest that Gonzalez had wandered into Prestipino’s home and was given methamphetamine, after which she began speaking in tongues and was tied up by the defendant.
It is claimed that Gonzalez was left tied up for an extended period, and when she came around, she punched Prestipino and threatened to call the police.
He then strangled and poisoned her, according to police.
Garrett pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in February 2021, while Lisa Mort, who was also arrested in connection with Gonzalez’s death, pleaded guilty as an accessory to murder in February 2020.
The case highlights the disturbing and tragic consequences of drug use, sexual exploitation, and violence against women.
Gonzalez, an adult entertainer with a significant following on Instagram, was reportedly wearing lingerie and high heels and asking for a ride on the day she was last seen alive.
She was also seen on CCTV trying to open the door to a home before going to Prestipino’s home.
While the details of her death are horrific and shocking, they also shed light on the dangers and vulnerability that some individuals, particularly women in the entertainment industry, face.
The case also raises questions about the criminal justice system and the adequacy of sentencing for violent crimes.
While Prestipino has been sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison, some may argue that the punishment does not fit the severity of the crime.
The fact that he pleaded guilty via an Alford plea, which does not require him to admit guilt, may also be a source of concern for some.
Nonetheless, the case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting and respecting human life, and the need to hold perpetrators of violent crimes accountable for their actions.