Mother of Newborn and Her 2 Brothers Killed Baby’s Dad Over $1,000 in Broad Daylight as His Family Watched

Three siblings have reached plea deals resulting in their convictions for killing a Las Vegas man in a dispute over $1,000. Janet Juarez, Juan Juarez, and Christian Juarez all took Alford pleas after each facing multiple charges related to the fatal shooting of Anthony Rivero. By taking Alford pleas, the siblings acknowledge that there is enough evidence to convict them on the charges they face, but they are not making admissions of guilt.

Janet and Anthony were the parents of an 8-month-old infant at the time of the murder but were never a couple, according to prosecutors. That child, who is now 5 years old, has no father and his mother is headed to prison. According to an arrest warrant obtained by PEOPLE, prosecutors cited an eyewitness and multiple text messages as key evidence in their case. Among the eyewitnesses was Maria Rivero, the mother of the victim, who watched as her son was shot dead on Dec. 8, 2020, at 2:06 p.m. in front of her home.

Maria told police that she heard an argument happening in front of the home and went outside to look, at which point she saw “a Hispanic male trying to get into Anthony’s car.” She also observed a woman in the car that the Hispanic male had been driving, with her hair in a bun — similar to how Janet wore hers, according to the warrant. “The male suspect kept trying to get into the vehicle,” the warrant reads. “Maria yelled out at the suspect and as he looked up at her Anthony started to drive away but as he did, he was shot.”

Anthony made it to the end of the road before he lost consciousness and crashed the car, according to the warrant. At the same time, Maria said she watched as the male and female sped off in a white GMC Yukon Denali, which was the same make and model of car owned by a woman with ties to Juan. Prosecutors also had a series of text messages and calls between Janet and Anthony in the days before he was shot dead in which Janet demanded money from her ex, and said that if he could not provide the money she would have her brothers kill him.

In the end, Janet received a four to 10 year sentence for voluntary manslaughter with the use of a deadly weapon as well as an additional four to 10 years for the deadly weapons enhancement. Those sentences will be served consecutively and mean she could be released in eight years. Juan Juarez could also be released from prison in eight years after receiving consecutive sentences of four to 10 years for both voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder. Christian Juarez received a sentence of 10 to 25 years in prison for second-degree murder because he was the person who fired the fatal shots.

Lawyers for the siblings did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. During the sentencing, the lawyers apologized to the victim’s family. Maria Rivero responded by saying: “How much [does] a life cost? $1,000? I don’t take your apology. I don’t take it. My son’s life cost much more than $1,000. Much more.” The tragic story sheds light on the devastating consequences of violence over money, leaving a family shattered and a young child without a father. Such cases underline the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully and seeking help when facing difficult situations. The siblings’ convictions serve as a reminder of the justice system’s role in holding perpetrators accountable for their actions and providing closure to the victims’ loved ones.

It is crucial for communities to come together to prevent such senseless acts of violence and promote a culture of respect and understanding. As society continues to grapple with the aftermath of such tragedies, support for those affected and efforts towards reconciliation become vital in healing the wounds caused by such profound loss. The story of Janet Juarez, Juan Juarez, and Christian Juarez serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the profound impact of violence on families and communities.