In a courtroom awash with emotion, DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan sentenced a murder defendant for killing his girlfriend to 24 years in prison on Aug. 8.
Mario Banegas Deras, 43, pleaded guilty on April 15 to second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the brutal killing of 35-year-old Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado, on Dec. 15, 2024 on the 700 block of Girard Street, NW.
When officers arrived, they found both individuals and the scene covered in hair and blood as well as a brick covered in blood and a knife in the woman’s neck. The medical examiner concluded there were multiple causes to the homicide, including strangulation.
At the sentencing, family and community members of Ayala Guardado flooded the courtroom, all wearing T-shirts with “JUSTICIA” written beneath her photo. Although t-shirts are not typically allowed during sentencing hearings, the family obtained special permission from Judge Ryan.
Banegas Deras and Ayala Guardado met in Honduras and moved to the United States together in 2015, according to their son, who spoke during the sentencing. While they were never formally married, the couple had three children and lived together until a week before the murder.
Prosecutors requested Judge Ryan sentence Banegas Deras to 24 years of incarceration. They said Ayala Guardado kicked Banegas Deras out of the apartment they shared following a violent incident. About a week later, he returned to the apartment the morning of the murder, waited for her to come out, then brutally murdered her. Banegas Deras called 911 on himself, according to court documents.
Their daughter, 13 at the time of the murder, told Judge Ryan that Banegas Deras had always been abusive to her mother. She spoke through tears, her 18-year-old brother by her side.
“We have to grow up without her watching us get older,” their daughter said. “If the decision were in my hands, I would give him life.”
The daughter and her brother both told the court that they would try to call the police on Banegas Deras when he became physically violent toward Ayala Guardado, but he would threaten suicide or say that immigration would take Ayala Guardado away if they called.
“I got tired of seeing her being abused,” said the son describing his mother as a “bright light.”
One of Ayala Guardado’s older sisters gave a statement to the court through an interpreter. She remembered her sister fondly, calling Ayala Guardado the “life force of her home.”
“My sister can’t speak today, but I can – and my voice is clamoring for justice,” Ayala Guardado’s sister said emphatically.
A woman involved in Angeles Guerreros, an organization that helps victims of domestic violence and their families, has worked with the Ayala Guardado family – both in the United States and Honduras – since the murder. She became emotional describing the profound impact Ayala Guardado’s story has had on her.
“I saw Magdalena and my life has changed since that day,” she said. “All I ask is for justice, said the organization’s representative.
Ayala Guardado’s mother and oldest sister were also present on Webex and gave statements. They both asked for the maximum penalty.
“This murderer doesn’t deserve to ever be free again,” Ayala Guardado’s sister said.
Defense attorney, Terrence Austin, began his argument with a powerpoint slide simply saying, “Mario Banegas is not a monster.” Gasps were heard from the gallery.
Austin asked Judge Ryan to look at Banegas Deras as a complete person and sentence him at the bottom of the guidelines, which recommended 12-to-24 years of incarceration.
“Nobody should be reduced to the worst thing they’ve done,” Austin said.
Austin recounted the difficult life Banegas Deras has endured. He lost his father at a young age to alcoholism, grew up in extreme poverty in Honduras, was not able to continue his education past sixth grade, and worked in factories and fields since he was very young. Austin also said that those who know Banegas Deras describe him as good, hard-working, and kind.
Austin noted that Banegas Deras has been working on himself, taking courses on stress management in prison, and getting baptized. He also argued that he has shown great remorse for his actions, pleading guilty as soon as he could and crying at every meeting.
“He hasn’t cried for himself, he has cried for the pain he has caused,” Austin said.
Banegas Deras himself addressed the court. “I am guilty and I do deserve the full force of the law,” he said. “I know my remorse is not even enough.”
Judge Ryan explained that he almost always abides by the sentencing guidelines to ensure fairness. However, he also said that the heinousness of the murder and the tremendous impact of Ayala Guardado’s murder led him to impose a sentence at the top of the guidelines.
Banegas Deras was sentenced to 24 years in prison with five years of supervised release, during which he will be required to attend mental health treatment.
No further dates were set.
