Satinsky murder suspect accused of car theft in 2005

The man arrested in the death of an elderly Sahuarita woman faces murder, kidnapping and burglary charges, and also has been charged with taking the victim’s car in 2005, a county prosecutor said.

Edward Terrazas Villa, 63, of Tucson, faces an arraignment tomorrow in Pima County Justice Court after being indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and third-degree burglary in connection with the death of Robin F. Satinsky, 89. The victim was described as being in the early stages of dementia and disappeared from her home in October 2007.

Villa was a handyman and ran errands for Satinsky.

He also was indicted for the unlawful use of a motor vehicle for allegedly taking Satinsky’s car in 2005, Deputy County Attorney Richard Wintory said. In the 2005 case, Satinsky reported the vehicle stolen and police arrested Villa in it several weeks later, Wintory said.

At tomorrow’s arraignment, it is expected a not guilty plea will be entered on behalf of Villa and a defense lawyer will be appointed for him. It is expected that a court date, likely in about 55 days, will be set for a case management conference.

Villa was arrested on Sept. 16, made his first court appearance on Sept. 26 and is being held on $250,000 bail.

The autopsy, which was obtained by the Sahuarita Sun through a public records request, lists as the cause of death asphyxiation and says her nose and mouth were bound by duct tape, and duct tape also was wound around her neck.

The Medical Examiner’s report attributed the death to a homicide and said bones were discovered in a duct-taped black garbage bag along the east side of Interstate 19 at kilometer post 78. Satinsky was pronounced dead at the scene by Sahuarita Police Officer Sam Almodova.

The body, described as reduced to a skeleton and partially mummified, or dried and shriveled, was in a fetal position. Multiple loops of duct tape were wound around the legs and a single piece of duct tape was wound around the left thighbone and around the spine.

Wintory noted that Villa is presumed innocent at this time, but said he is accused of taking Satinsky from her home and suffocating her, either by strangulation or by smothering her with the tape on her nose and mouth.

Villa’s own car had been impounded by Tucson police in 2007, Wintory said.

Between 2005 and 2007, Wintory said, Villa “had ingratiated himself back with Ms. Satinsky, running errands with her, taking her to doctor’s appointments in her car.

“We allege that he murdered her. We don’t know where it took place. We know, according to the Medical Examiner’s office, the likely cause of death is asphyxiation through the use of duct tape on the mouth, nose and neck,” Wintory said.

On Nov. 5, 2007, Sahuarita police visited Satinsky’s home on a welfare check and discovered that she had last been seen on Oct. 30. Her vehicle was not at home, but her purse was found inside her home. Her disappearance became a missing person’s case, police said in a press release.

Satinsky’s car, a gray 1986 Mercury Marquis station wagon, was found in Tucson near 12th Avenue and Valencia Road on Nov. 7, 2007, and foul play was suspected, police said.

On June 6 of this year, human remains wrapped in a plastic garbage bag were found along I-19 south of Pima Mine Road and the remains later were identified as those of Satinsky.

Police said in a press release that “DNA collected at a scene was a positive match for Villa.”

At the time Satinsky’s car was found, Villa was working for Labor Finders at 6418 S. 12th Ave., Tucson. Anyone with information on Villa or Satinsky’s car is asked to call the Sahuarita Police Department at 344-7000 or 88-CRIME.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738