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Calif. Man Gets Death for Sexual Assault, Torture, Murder of Girlfriend's 5-Year-Old Daughter

Antonio Rodriguez Gets Death for Sexual Assault
Desarie Saravia (Personal Photo)

SAN FERNANDO, Calif. (CBS/AP) Antonio Rodriguez has been sentenced to death for sexually assaulting and beating to death his girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter, Desarie Saravia.

The 29-year-old southern California man was sentenced Thursday in a San Fernando courtroom for the 2004 attack. He was convicted in July of murder, torture and other charges.

Prosecutors say Rodriguez brutalized Desarie and her 6-year-old brother for months before he molested and beat the girl in a park restroom.

He'd taken the children to the park while their mother cleaned a house nearby.

Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen said during sentencing that Rodriguez had extinguished the light of an angel.

The girl's mother, 32-year-old Debby Saravia, is awaiting trial on murder and other charges.

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