FONTANA -- An Upland man has been sentenced to more than two decades in state prison for killing his estranged wife with a machete nearly three years ago.
Horacio Gonzalez Jr., 42, received his sentence of 26 years to life - with the possibility of parole - Thursday inside a full courtroom at Fontana Superior Court. The term was handed out after friends and family members of the victim read heart-felt letters concerning their loved one.
Last month, Horacio Gonzalez Jr. was found guilty of murder for chasing down 37-year-old Griselda Gonzalez to the rear of the Fontana beauty salon where she worked and attacking her with a machete on July 22, 2009.
He struck her in the head at least twice with the weapon and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Afterward, Horacio Gonzalez Jr. bought bleach and drank it, in what appeared to be a suicide attempt.
Prior to the attack, Griselda Gonzalez had filed a restraining order against her estranged husband. The couple were having problems and had been separated for about six months.
"I'm very happy with the sentencing," said Jack Dioses, owner of Mimi's Hair Designs in the 17700 block of Taylor Avenue.
Griselda Gonzalez had worked for Dioses at the salon for 17 years.
"She was like a daughter to me and my late wife," he said.
Dioses said the prison term for Horacio Gonzalez Jr. has given him some type of closure.
"It will never replace what he did," Dioses said.
"But justice was served."
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