Man Sentenced 40 Years To Life For Killing Long Island Woman, DA Says

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Centereach man was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison after he was found guilty of fatally shooting a 33-year-old woman in a parking lot in Coram in 2022, officials said Thursday.

Anthony Santiesteban, 32, was convicted of second-degree murder and other related charges related to the death of Martina Thompson of East Patchogue.

"This defendant deliberately took the life of Martina Thompson, whose children will now have to live without their mother," Tierney said in a news release. "Murder does not just end one life, it devastates families, friends, and entire communities. While no punishment can ever truly compensate for the loss of a loved one, this sentence ensures the defendant will face severe consequences for this grievous act and will no longer pose a danger to the public."

Santiesteban is being represented by Jonathan Manley and Peter Mayer. Mayer said Santiesteban plans to appeal the conviction.

"Our client’s case is not over," Mayer told Patch in an update. "Although he was sentenced today, he maintains that he is not guilty of these crimes and we therefore will be appealing this conviction."

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.

"We believe it was a random encounter," the Suffolk County DA's Office told Patch.

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.