A Porterville man has been sentenced to life in prison by the Tulare County Superior Court for the second-degree murder of his wife.
Leonardo Nacoa, 34, was found guilty of shooting his wife to death and three counts of felony child abuse in December 2012.
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The District Attorney's Office said Nacoa and his wife were arguing before he "racked" a shotgun in his wife's face and shot her at point blank range in the head.
The couple's 2-year-old daughter was lying on the bed next to her mother when the shooting occurred, while their 1-year-old son was only feet away in his crib.
Both children were covered in blood when police arrived.
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The DA's Office said immediately after the shooting, Nacoa left the children alone in the apartment and fled to Mexico, but surrendered himself to law enforcement a day and a half later.
Nacoa must serve 46 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.