ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) -- Edward Long will spend 50 years to life in prison for the murder of Elizabeth Perez, whose body was found in a car along I-15.
Her family called Monday's sentencing a welcome bit of justice and closure. "It's hard to understand what happened," says Angela Perez, Elizabeth's mother. "She did not deserve this. The fear she must have felt, it kills me."
Long killed Perez on June 12, 2016. Police say he shot her once in the head and then left her body in her car on the side of the I-15 freeway.
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He was convicted of her murder in a trial in February, 2017. During sentencing, her family begged the judge for the maximum sentence, 50 years, which Long got.
"He should never be allowed to be free and walk with society," Elizabeth's Aunt, Lisa Perez. "He will kill again."
Family described Elizabeth as the happiest relative, the one who got everyone together and served as a second mother to her younger sisters and her nephew, Nathan.
"Every day I think about her," says sister, Jasmine Guillen. "And when my son asks abou her, that's going to be a difficult conversation."Long did not make a statement during his sentencing.
