Fourteen years after his family was tragically murdered, the surviving son went face-to-face with his mother and sisters’ killer with an emotional victim impact statement that left a Miami-Dade courtroom in tears on Tuesday.
Michael Padrino was 5 years old when his stepfather Alberto Sierra, whom he once called “Papi,” suffocated Gladys Machado, 6-year-old Julia and 3-year-old Daniela in 2012.
“We were supposed to have more time together,” Padrino said during Sierra’s sentencing trial. “More birthdays, more holidays, more days where nothing important is happening…arguing over dumb things, sitting around doing nothing… those were the best times.”
The now-19-year-old then stared down Sierra from the stand, unable to hold back his emotions.
“And you,” Padrino said. “You took them. You know you did.”
Attorneys rushed to Padrino and took him out of the courtroom as he broke down. The jurors were taken to another room because many of them were crying.
Family PhotosFamily Photos
Gladys Machado and her daughters
Padrino’s family were found slain in a northwest Miami-Dade home on Nov. 13, 2012. Sierra accused Machado of cheating, and used a plastic bag to suffocate her and her daughters.
The family had gone out shopping with Sierra on the day of the murders. Padrino ended up staying at home with his great-grandmother because he wanted to watch “Caso Carrado,” a Spanish court television show. That decision, he said, saved his life.
“I never thought I would give up anything in the world just to see them one more time,” he said.
Sierra pleaded guilty to the crimes. The jury will need to recommend punishment: life in prison or the death penalty. The sentencing trial will continue Wednesday.
The sentencing trial for Alberto Sierra entered its second week, with jurors getting to hear the chilling confession of how he killed his wife and two stepdaughters. NBC6’s Christian Colón reports