Font ResizeA suspect charged with murder for the shooting death of a man, who was found dead in his car two years ago in Taylorsville, has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Frank Madrid, 38, of South Salt Lake, faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 31 by 3rd District Judge Randall Skanchy.
Madrid pleaded guilty to killing 37-year-old Louis Miera on Oct. 21, 2007.
According to testimony at a preliminary hearing, Miera left a gathering at a home near 2600 West and 3300 South in West Valley City, and Madrid followed him outside.
Travis Anderson testified Miera was sitting in the driver's seat of his car and he was chatting with Miera when Madrid approached and shoved him out of the way.
Anderson said Miera yelled for him to "run," and he bolted to his nearby truck. As Anderson was getting into his truck, he said he heard a "pop."
Seconds later, Miera got out of the vehicle with both hands holding his neck, but Madrid grabbed the wounded man, threw him back into the vehicle and then drove away in Miera's car, Anderson testified.
A passerby later found Miera's body in the car, which had been left near 1400 W. Atherton Drive in Taylorsville. An autopsy showed Miera died of a single gunshot wound to the neck.
