A Pennsylvania man will spend the rest of his life in prison after killing his estranged wife and her aunt during an argument over who would make dinner.
Santiago Payano-Sanchez, 64, received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty on Jan. 30 to criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and other charges, according to a press release from the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. He was also sentenced to an additional 20 to 40 years in state prison.
Prosecutors said that on Oct. 5, 2025, Payano-Sanchez fatally shot his estranged wife, Ana Gutierrez-Cedano, 59, who used a wheelchair, and her aunt, Dominga Cedano-Cedano, 74, at his home in West Hempfield Township. Authorities said he also shot his 33-year-old son during the incident; the son survived.
According to Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo, the shooting followed what she described as a “senseless” dispute about who would make dinner. She said Payano-Sanchez first shot Gutierrez-Cedano, then shot his son as the son tried to wrestle the gun away. Prosecutors said the man then went upstairs, where he shot Cedano–Cedano.
Two children, ages 2 and 7, were also inside the home at the time but were not injured. Payano-Sanchez surrendered to police at the scene.
In court, Payano-Sanchez spoke through an interpreter, saying he could not explain why the argument escalated to violence and asking his loved ones for forgiveness.
“I need to face what the law is imposing on me,” he said, according to the release.
In victim impact statements read by prosecutors, Gutierrez-Cedano’s daughter said the shootings caused “permanent loss, pain and grief.” Cedano-Cedano’s daughter wrote that her mother’s death “has left a void that can never be filled,” adding that the family expects to carry the trauma for the rest of their lives.
As part of his sentence, Payano-Sanchez was also ordered to pay more than $11,000 in restitution and to have no contact with the victims.
