43-year old Sar I, an undocumented immigrant from the Philippines will serve 15 years to life in prison for admitting to the murder of his ex-girlfriend Claudia Lopez Escobar.
"Your Honor, I just want to say sorry to the family that I hurt, and all the people that I hurt out there. I'm very sorry," he told the judge on Monday.
The 2012 murder inside a Southwest Columbus apartment was horrific. "He described cutting her body into several pieces using a reciprocating saw that he had purchased at Lowes and placed her in several garbage bags. (He) deposited them into several trash cans and trash containers in the south end of Columbus," said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Chappelear.
Police say Sar I and Escobar met at his apartment, because she wanted to end their relationship. That meeting turned violent.
"He described hitting Ms. Escobar with a marble bowl until she was rendered unconscious. He then tied a plastic grocery bag around her neck and head until she stopped breathing," said Chappelear.
His attorney says his client can't explain his actions. "Mr I is very, very remorseful and I have several discussions with him and even he can't explain what led to make these awful decisions," said attorney Charles Carter
Sar I and Claudia Escobar worked together at Corrugated America. The plant is just down the street from I's apartment. Inside his apartment, police say they found blood matching Escobar, as well as cleaning supplies that were later traced to Columbus stores.
Surveillance video captured him inside the stores and driving away in the victim's SUV.
In November 2013, I was located near Madison, Wisconsin where police say he later confessed to the crime.