Chelsea man who killed his estranged wife sentenced to at least 25 years in prison – NBC Boston

A Chelsea, Massachusetts man who pleaded guilty to stabbing his estranged wife to death in an apartment in 2021 was sentenced to at least 25 years in prison on Friday.

Mario Mira, 51, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and admitted killing 47-year-old Paula Andrea Ortiz in a Stockton Street apartment on Dec. 11, 2021, prosecutors said.

Ortiz was found dead after being stabbed and cut more than 40 times, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. Mira was also found injured in the apartment and was taken to the hospital for surgery. Prosecutors said he inflicted the injuries on himself.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or www.diehotline.org or send an SMS with the text LOVEIS to 22522.

Mira was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

Authorities are investigating the woman's death as a homicide.

Ortiz Ramirez's relatives, including the couple's 17-year-old daughter, released statements about their victims.

“It's been almost three years of constant panic attacks, PTSD, nightmares, depression, days where I can't get out of bed, days where I'm angry at the world and wondering who's to blame. I've never really felt good, but I forced myself to find peace,” said Maria Paz Ortiz. “I had no choice, I'm still angry at my dad, but I don't hate him. But now I have to explain to my kids why grandpa and grandma aren't with us, I have to tell my story thousands of times. I still have so many questions, but they'll probably go unanswered. I wish my dad had thought of us, but I guess these are things anger can do to you.”

Victims of domestic or sexual violence have resources available through SafeLink, a nationwide hotline available at 877-785-2020. Help is available in multiple languages.