A National City man who called police and said he had stabbed his wife pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder.
Deputy District Attorney Samira Seidu said Jose Hernandez Cruz, 44, faces a term of 16 years to life in state prison for the slaying of Angelica Vargas Hernandez, 38.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Patricia Garcia set sentencing for June 23. Cruz remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility without bail.
Seidu said Cruz will receive a term of 15 years to life for murder plus one year consecutively for admitting he used a knife in the homicide.
Cruz called 911 at 10:13 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2015 to say his wife was stabbed at 2503 I Ave. in National City. Police and paramedics responded and they found Angelica Hernandez dead at the scene.
A deputy medical examiner testified at the preliminary hearing in July that the cause of death was a stab wound. She was stabbed at the base of her neck, her chest, and possible defensive wounds to her hands and elbow.
The prosecutor said the family of the victim was satisfied with the guilty plea to second-degree murder. The couple reportedly had five children. He pleaded guilty Monday just before his case was to be assigned to a courtroom for trial.
