In the mid-1980s, AIMS Community College in Greeley, Colorado, became the meeting ground for Tina Tournai-Sandoval and John Sandoval.
Tina, a nurse, was working towards an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, while John was enrolled in radiology technician courses.
Their relationship culminated in marriage on December 31, 1991, amidst the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Regrettably, the marriage was short-lived, as Tina soon discovered John’s dark side.
A mere two years after their wedding, divorce proceedings were initiated by Tina.
She moved into a new apartment and began dating, anticipating the finalization of the divorce.
Tina revealed to some colleagues at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley that her estranged husband suffered from voyeurism.
This condition led him to follow random women from convenience stores and stalk them for days.
John’s behavior reportedly escalated to late-night window peeping and even breaking into the homes of these women, hiding in cupboards and under beds to avoid detection.
Tina alleged that John had stolen women’s underwear and brought them home.
Following complaints, the police questioned John at the Sandoval residence multiple times.
After a visit from the police in the summer of 1995, Tina reached her breaking point and filed for divorce.
She shared with her colleagues that she had spotted John’s car outside her new apartment several times, expressing concerns that he might be stalking her.
Despite Tina’s decision to end the marriage, John was unwilling to let go and allegedly threatened to commit suicide.
Tragic Disappearance and Murder Charge
Tina Tournai-Sandoval disappeared on October 18, 1995. John Sandoval, her husband, was charged with her murder in 2009.
John was convicted of Tina’s murder based on testimony from previous victims and investigating officers.
However, since Tina’s body had not been found, a technicality caused the Colorado Court of Appeals to overturn the guilty verdict in 2016.
A new trial was scheduled, but John eventually disclosed Tina’s remains’ location at the Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Greeley, in exchange for a plea deal.
In March 2017, nearly 22 years after her disappearance, Tina’s decomposed remains were unearthed.
John pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 25 years in prison plus five years on parole, with credit for time served.
He is eligible for parole in 2020, after serving 12 years, but it is not guaranteed.
John Sandoval Today: His Current Situation
John Sandoval now resides in the Trinidad Correctional Facility, with his next parole hearing scheduled for January 2026 and an expected release date in 2032.
Tina’s sister, Kelly Fryan, expressed surprise at the parole eligibility date, but experts emphasize that this does not guarantee his release.
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