Man Found Guilty Of Killing LI Mother: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Centereach man was found guilty of fatally shooting a young mother in October 2022, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Tuesday.

Anthony Santiesteban, 32, of Centereach, was convicted of second-degree murder and other related charges for killing Martina Thompson, 33, of East Patchogue, the DA said.

"This defendant deliberately and selfishly extinguished the life of Martina Thompson, a young mother," Tierney said in a news release. "I thank the jury for their time and careful attention to this case, and I thank the investigators and prosecutors for their dedication to getting justice for Martina and her family."

In the early hours of Oct. 29, 2022, surveillance video captured Santiesteban and Thompson talking next to Santiesteban’s Jeep Cherokee in a parking lot in Coram, officials said. Santiesteban was then seen on video following Thompson into a fenced area at the back of the parking lot, authorities said.

Immediately afterwards, at 1:03 a.m., a gunshot is heard on the video recording, and Santiesteban was captured walking out of the fenced area with a semi-automatic handgun in his hand, investigators said. Santiesteban then entered his Jeep and drove away, the DA said.

Less than 15 minutes later, police officers found Thompson with a gunshot wound to her face, lying in a pool of blood, prosecutors said. She was pronounced dead at Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue.

On Nov. 2, 2022, police searched Santiesteban’s bedroom after obtaining a search warrant and recovered a loaded and defaced 9 mm handgun, officials said. Ballistics testing confirmed the bullet casing found next to Thompson's body came from the gun found in the bedroom, authorities said.

Santiesteban was convicted of one count of second-degree murder; two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Santiesteban is due back in court for sentencing on Aug. 1 and he faces up to 25 years to life in prison. He is being represented by Jonathan Manley and Peter Mayer. Neither Manley or Mayer immediately responded to Patch's request for comment.