Man Gets Life Term For Vicious Attacks

Md. Judge Remarks on Bravery of Women

A Hyattsville man who instituted what prosecutors called a "reign of terror" in parts of Montgomery County was sentenced to life in prison without parole Thursday for breaking into the homes of four widows, hogtying them, gagging them and killing his final victim.

"He left these women for dead," Circuit Court Judge Michael D. Mason said. "He should not walk free among us again."

Three dozen friends and relatives of the victims came to see Jose Garcia-Perlera, 34, led off to prison. He displayed little emotion, as was the case when he was convicted in May.

Mason made note of "truly remarkable" victims in the case, all of whom lived alone and charged into their later years with pluck and independence: Mary Frances Havenstein, 63, found beaten and dead on her bedroom floor; Margaret Arnold, 94, who is legally blind and was attacked in her basement; Betty Tubbs, 79, who tried to whack Garcia-Perlera with a flashlight; and Ann Wolfe, 79, who chewed through a duct-tape gag while bound in her basement for 2 1/2 days before she was found by her daughter.

Garcia-Perlera stole items from the women and seemed to have a penchant for costume jewelry, which he took back to his apartment in Hyatttsville and stuffed into drawers.

"For whatever reason, [Garcia-Perlera] derived some pleasure or satisfaction from inflicting pain and humiliating these women," Mason said. "Now, the remarkable thing is, as a result of the trial, we've come to learn that they're not nearly as vulnerable as they may have seemed. . . . If there's any good that can come of even something as evil as this, the one interesting thing is I think that these women have come to be recognized and celebrated for what truly remarkable people they are."

Mason said it was unfortunate that Havenstein had not lived to see how area residents had come to appreciate all four victims.

Havenstein bowled in several leagues and was an avid golfer. The youngest of five children, she grew up in Northwest Washington and attended Our Lady of the Woods College in Indiana. Relatives said that she had reconnected with the Catholic Church later in life.

Garcia-Perlera did not speak at the sentencing hearing. He maintains his innocence, and his attorney, Samuel Delgado, indicated that he did not want to hurt his appeal chances.

In a report submitted to Mason, which the judge said he would make part of the case file, Delgado described Garcia-Perlera's poor upbringing in El Salvador, where he studied to be an electrician. About 2000, Garcia-Perlera left with a friend to walk to the United States. He was caught after crossing the border illegally but was set free pending his immigration removal hearing, according to Mason and immigration officials.

Garcia-Perlera did not show up for the hearing, officials said, and worked briefly in Texas. He met a woman who bought him food and a bus ticket to New York, Delgado wrote in his report, and lived in Queens, picking up work at a restaurant.

Garcia-Perlera also picked up an arrest warrant for a burglary, according to prosecutors, and left for Maryland. Once in the Washington area, he worked as an electrician and handyman. He briefly worked in Wolfe's home in Potomac.