A man who admitted to killing his wife and setting the Miami home where her body was found on fire has been sentenced to life in prison.

Marcus Sanchez pleaded guilty to murder and arson in connection with the August 2024 death of Jenny Miguel, a longtime City of Miami Police Department employee. 

Miguel worked as a payroll clerk for the department for more than 15 years. She was also a mother, sister and colleague who was remembered in court as someone deeply loved by her family and coworkers.

Miami Police officers filled the courtroom during Sanchez’s sentencing to support Miguel’s family and honor their former colleague.

During the hearing, Sanchez described what happened the night Miguel was killed. He told the court that he and his wife had been using drugs when he became paranoid and started hearing voices.

Sanchez said he grabbed his gun and shot Miguel twice in the head and chest. 

“I was hearing voices,” Sanchez told the court, explaining that he eventually decided to burn everything down.

Instead of immediately calling police, Sanchez spent several days with Miguel’s body, investigators said. He also attempted to clean up the crime scene before purchasing gasoline and setting the rental home on fire.

Miguel’s family confronted Sanchez in court.

“I want you to die. I will never forgive you,” her daughter told him.

Patricia Miguel remembered her sister Jenny as a woman who still had much of her life ahead of her.

“She had so much life left to live,” Patricia Miguel said.

Sanchez apologized to the family during the hearing, saying he was sorry and acknowledging that there was nothing he could do to undo the pain he caused.

Sanchez had hoped to receive a 25-year prison sentence. Prosecutors and Miguel’s family, however, asked the judge for the maximum punishment.

Judge Christine Hernandez sentenced Sanchez to life in prison, saying life imprisonment was the only sentence warranted by the facts of the case.

For Miguel’s family, the sentence provides a measure of justice, but they said it cannot bring back the mother, sister and longtime police department employee they lost.

Sanchez will spend the rest of his life behind bars.