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United States of America v. Mario Miguel Banegas Deras
Date: 08-08-2025
Case Number:
Judge:
Court: The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington Count)y
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Washington DC
Defendant's Attorney: Click Here For The Best Washington DC Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory
Description:
Illegal Immigrant Who Murdered the Mother of His Children Gets 24 Years in Prison
Mario Miguel Banegas Deras, 43, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in Superior Court for the beating, stabbing, and strangulation death of Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado in Northwest.
Banegas Deras pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed on April 15, 2025. Superior Court Judge J. Michael Ryan sentenced Banegas Deras to ÂÂ24 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
"This illegal lowlife killed the mother of his children in the most heinous way, after abusing her throughout their relationship,†said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. "Domestic violence is something that we will not tolerate from anyone, particularly those who are not legal citizens of this country who break the law. For any woman in a violent relationship please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.â€
According to the government's evidence, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on December 15, 2024, 42-year-old Mario Miguel Banegas Deras, went to 744 Girard Street, NW, where he had lived with the victim, Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado, and their 3 children until approximately one week before the murder, after Ms. Ayala told him to leave the home due to continued physical and emotional abuse. On that day, Banegas Deras entered the apartment building and made his way to the lower level where he exited the building at the storage/garage area and attempted to open the garage door. When he couldn't get in the garage, the defendant re-entered the building where he waited in hiding for the victim to make her way to the garage, as she did every day. Ninety minutes later, Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado exited the building, unlocked and then entered the garage. The defendant, who had been watching her through a small window, followed her into the garage and immediately closed the door. Once the defendant had Ms. Ayala trapped inside the garage, he killed the victim by strangling her, hitting her in the head over fourteen times with a brick, and stabbing her in the neck. Thirty-five minutes after closing the garage door, Banegas Deras called 9-1-1 and reported that he'd just killed his wife by strangling her. The defendant was placed under arrest at the scene.
Shortly after the defendant's arrest, the government obtained a Warrant of Removal/Deportation with the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Upon completion of his sentence, the defendant will be deported to his country of origin, Honduras.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney, Marybeth Manfreda, who prosecuted the case.
Washington DC criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Murderinfg Murdering the Mother of His Children
Illegal Immigrant Who Murdered the Mother of His Children Gets 24 Years in Prison
Mario Miguel Banegas Deras, 43, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in Superior Court for the beating, stabbing, and strangulation death of Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado in Northwest.
Banegas Deras pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed on April 15, 2025. Superior Court Judge J. Michael Ryan sentenced Banegas Deras to ÂÂ24 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
"This illegal lowlife killed the mother of his children in the most heinous way, after abusing her throughout their relationship,†said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. "Domestic violence is something that we will not tolerate from anyone, particularly those who are not legal citizens of this country who break the law. For any woman in a violent relationship please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.â€
According to the government's evidence, at approximately 6:30 a.m. on December 15, 2024, 42-year-old Mario Miguel Banegas Deras, went to 744 Girard Street, NW, where he had lived with the victim, Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado, and their 3 children until approximately one week before the murder, after Ms. Ayala told him to leave the home due to continued physical and emotional abuse. On that day, Banegas Deras entered the apartment building and made his way to the lower level where he exited the building at the storage/garage area and attempted to open the garage door. When he couldn't get in the garage, the defendant re-entered the building where he waited in hiding for the victim to make her way to the garage, as she did every day. Ninety minutes later, Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado exited the building, unlocked and then entered the garage. The defendant, who had been watching her through a small window, followed her into the garage and immediately closed the door. Once the defendant had Ms. Ayala trapped inside the garage, he killed the victim by strangling her, hitting her in the head over fourteen times with a brick, and stabbing her in the neck. Thirty-five minutes after closing the garage door, Banegas Deras called 9-1-1 and reported that he'd just killed his wife by strangling her. The defendant was placed under arrest at the scene.
Shortly after the defendant's arrest, the government obtained a Warrant of Removal/Deportation with the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Upon completion of his sentence, the defendant will be deported to his country of origin, Honduras.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney, Marybeth Manfreda, who prosecuted the case.
Outcome:
24 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Mario Miguel Banegas Deras?
The outcome was: 24 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
Which court heard United States of America v. Mario Miguel Banegas Deras?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington Count)y, DC.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Mario Miguel Banegas Deras?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Washington DC. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Washington DC Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Mario Miguel Banegas Deras decided?
This case was decided on August 8, 2025.