Cobb Reporter

A jury recently found Santos Tomas Vasquez guilty of organizing his roommate's murder.

The counts were malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and armed robbery, a FOX 5 Atlanta news release said. The trial lasted three weeks. After the guilty verdict was handed down, Vasquez was sentenced to life in prison by Cobb County Superior Court Judge Ann B. Harris.

"The jury returned a verdict that spoke the truth – that this Defendant was the ringleader behind this heinous murder," Senior Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Green said in the release. "He took advantage of and manipulated his codefendants to slaughter a man for reasons that will never be understood."

Codefendants Dorian Acosta, Anthony Lopez and Fredy Jimenez testified during trial that Vasquez devised a plan to murder his roommate, Andres Meza Munguia; the release said.

As the victim slept on the couch, Vasquez and Jimenez were said to have driven Acosta and Lopez to the crime scene, where Jimenez opened the door for Acosta and Lopez; the prosecutors said during trial. Vasquez and Jimenez were said to have returned to the residence over an hour after the shooting, and Vasquez called police in order to report the crime.

Jimenez, Acosta and Lopez all pleaded guilty earlier this year.