Woman reached deal in death of boyfriend

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

A Las Vegas woman accused of murdering the boyfriend who gave her the virus that causes AIDS has cut a deal with prosecutors.

District Attorney Stewart Bell said Evangelina Toledo, 53, has agreed to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter as part of a deal that will guarantee her a four to 10-year prison sentence.

Toledo was arrested in January after her daughter came forward and told police she helped her mother bury the body of Filiberto Guzman.

Elizabeth Sanchez, 24, took police to the back yard of her former home on Stanford Street in early January and showed police where the 31-year-old man was buried in May 1999.

Investigators found his body about two feet underground. He was wrapped in plastic and duct tape, and an autopsy revealed he had been shot in the back.

Bell said on Monday that he and defense attorney believe the plea agreement is for the best.

Toledo is in ill health and believed she had no other way to get out of an abusive situation, Bell said.

Bell said Toledo waived her right to a preliminary hearing and will formally enter her guilty plea before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on Feb. 26.

Sanchez was granted immunity, because she did not participate in the slaying and was cooperative with police.