Sandoval receives 2 life sentences for murders

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By LISA MUNGER / Lincoln Journal Star

One of the men on death row for his role in the 2002 Norfolk bank killings received two life sentences Monday for two earlier murders.

Jose Sandoval is on death row for the bank murders that left five people dead. On Monday he was charged in Madison County District Court with the first-degree murders of Travis Lundell and Robert Pearson Jr.

He pleaded guilty to both counts and Judge Patrick Rogers sentenced him to two life sentences, said Sandoval’s attorney, Ron Temple.

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Jose Sandoval is escorted through the Hamilton County, Neb., Courthouse by Hamilton County Sheriff Kirk Handrup on Nov. 17, 2003. (AP file)

Jose Sandoval is escorted through the Hamilton County, Neb., Courthouse by Hamilton County Sheriff Kirk Handrup on Nov. 17, 2003. (AP file)

Janie Heuson, Lundell’s mother, said Monday she had waited six years for the day when her son’s killer would admit his crime.

“I never thought I would live to see the day he’d confess but he did,” said Heuson, who lives in Tilden.

She said she wasn’t sure what to expect when Madison County Attorney Joe Smith told her she might want to come to the hearing.

“My client indicated a desire to have the process move as quickly as possible,” Temple said. “His comments related to the crimes will be released on transcript.”

Heuson said Sandoval did express regret for the slayings, but she couldn’t remember his exact words.

“I was so emotional,” she said.

The judge gave her a chance to speak at the hearing from the witness stand.

“He looked at me when I was on the stand,” Heuson said of Sandoval. “He nodded his head; we made eye contact. I think he felt sorry — if he even can.”

Heuson said Pearson’s father and brother were also in attendance at the hearing but waived their right to address Sandoval.

One year — nearly to the day —  has passed since police discovered Pearson’s body in a shallow grave on an abandoned tract of land west of Madison.

Temple said the timing of the Monday’s hearings was mere coincidence.

Pearson was reported missing in January 2002 by his mother.

Travis   Lundell was reported missing seven months later in August 2002. His body was found in March 2003.

Reports at the time of the discovery said he had been strangled and placed in a shallow grave near a secluded lake southeast of Norfolk.

Pearson and Lundell were known to be friends of Sandoval; Lundell and Sandoval had shared an apartment.

Sandoval, Erick Vela and Jorge Galindo have all been sentenced to death for robbing a U.S. Bank branch and helping to kill five people. The fourth bank killer,  Gabriel Rodriguez, was given five consecutive life sentences.

“I hope you see Travis’ face every night before you go to sleep,” Heuson said she told Sandoval before stepping down from the witness stand.

Reach Lisa Munger at lmunger@journalstar.com or 473-7107.