Man who abused an Idaho woman will receive maximum sentence in connection with her death

NAMPA (Idaho Statesman) – A 31-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison – the maximum sentence allowed by law – for his role in the death of a Nampa woman last year.

Justino Morales Ramos of Mexico was arrested in January 2023 on suspicion of failure to report a death. He pleaded guilty in March to aggravated assault and using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony, both felonies. According to court records, the charge was dismissed for failure to report a capital crime.

Nampa police found Maria Criselda Reyes Esparza, 38, dead in her apartment in the 1800 block of First Street North after a 911 caller who had not heard from her for several days reported the body, police previously said. She was discovered with signs of a blow to the head and cuts to her throat and wrapped in a deflated air mattress, according to a news release from the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday.

Police quickly labeled Ramos a “person involved in a murder” and arrested him in Caldwell two days after officers found Esparza’s body. At the time, Caldwell police said in a news release about his arrest that “murder charges were pending.” He appeared never to have faced such charges, according to court records.

It remains unclear whether Ramos and Esparza knew each other. An online obituary for Esparza reported that she died “at the hands of domestic battery.”

A spokesman for the Canyon County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately respond to a call and email from the Idaho Statesman seeking more information Wednesday.

Judge Gabriel McCarthy of Idaho’s 3rd Judicial District in Canyon County handed down Ramos’ sentence, which does not include parole. Ramos was also ordered to pay restitution to Esparza’s family, Wednesday’s news release said.

Ramos received credit for nearly two years in prison following his 30-year sentence. He is expected to begin serving his sentence in early 2053.