Alberto Sierra, 42, pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 to charges including first-degree murder in the 2012 deaths of his wife, Gladys Machado (29), and her daughters Julia (8) and Daniela (4). The bodies were discovered on Nov. 13, 2012, after a neighbor reported a foul odor. Prosecutors say DNA evidence links Sierra to sexual assaults of Machado and the 8-year-old daughter after the killings. A jury will decide later this month whether Sierra receives life in prison or the death penalty.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty in 2012 Killings of Wife and Two Stepdaughters; Jury To Decide Death Penalty
Alberto SierraCredit: Miami-Dade County
More than a decade after the deaths, 42-year-old Alberto Sierra pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 in Miami-Dade County to multiple charges tied to the 2012 slayings of his wife and two stepdaughters, including first-degree murder, burglary, kidnapping and abuse of a human corpse.
Case Summary
Prosecutors say Sierra admitted to stabbing his 29-year-old wife, Gladys Machado, and suffocating her daughters, Julia Padron (8) and Daniela Padron (4), in 2012. The victims' bodies were discovered inside the family home on Nov. 13, 2012, after a neighbor reported a strong, foul odor coming from the residence.
Gladys MachadoCredit: Miami-Dade County
Forensic Evidence
Investigators have said DNA evidence links Sierra to post-mortem sexual assaults of Machado and her 8-year-old daughter, according to local news reports. Machado's then-6-year-old son was not at the home at the time and was unharmed.
What Happens Next
The case has moved into the penalty phase of prosecution. A jury scheduled to convene later this month will determine whether Sierra is sentenced to life in prison or faces the death penalty.
Note: Charges and courtroom developments have been reported by The Miami Herald, CBS News and WPLG Local 10.
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