An Alaskan man, Armando Velador-Padilla, 50, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison, with 10 years suspended, for the murder of his daughter and her dog. Velador-Padilla was convicted of second-degree murder and animal cruelty, according to official statements. He had claimed that his daughter was possessed by the devil, which led him to commit the heinous act.
The tragic incident occurred on April 23, 2021, when Velador-Padilla, under the influence of voices and delusions, believed his daughter, Darla Velador, 22, was possessed by the devil. He stabbed both his daughter and her dog, Max, to death. An Anchorage grand jury indicted him a few days later.
Velador-Padilla was diagnosed with schizophrenia but was deemed fit to stand trial and plead guilty. The court determined that his mental illness posed a significant risk to the community. His condition was found to be resistant to medication, and he had a history of non-compliance with medical treatment, even while in custody, according to prosecutors.
Darla Velador, a young mother who had her son before graduating from Burchell High School in 2016, was remembered fondly in her obituary. It described her as a unique individual who made the world a better place. She had a passion for art, music, animals, and humanitarian work. Cooking, entertaining, singing, writing music, comedy, her son, her boyfriend Seth Masterson, and her rescue dog Max were among her favorite things.
Adam Mokelke, a former principal at Burchell High School, spoke to Anchorage NBC affiliate KTUU about Darla. Despite the challenges of being a young mother, she completed high school. Mokelke remembered her as a magnetic and positive personality who will be greatly missed.