Jury: Nunez Guilty of Killing Kimberly Cardona

A Lehigh County Court jury found Jonathan Nunez, 21, guilty of first-degree murder in the July 4, 2012 slaying of Kimberly Cardona, according to a report in The Morning Call.

The verdict, which came after three hours of deliberation, means Nunez, of Allentown, will spend the rest of his life in jail without the possibility of parole, according to the report. 

Nunez admitted during Friday's testimony that he beat Cardona and slit her throat. He said that he drank four alcoholic beverages and smoked synthetic marijuana before committing the alleged murder.

Defense attorney Glennis Clark Jr. hoped to convince the jury that his client's condition at the time of the homicide would spares Nunez a first-degree murder conviction, which carries a sentence of life in prison.

Cardona's body had been found on the evening of July 5, 2012 in the 2700 block of Lanze Lane. When police arrived, they saw her "badly beaten body," which was about 15 feet from the road, according to an arrest affidavit.

An autopsy by the Lehigh County Coroner's office revealed Cordona died sometime after 7 p.m. July 4, 2012 of blunt and sharp trauma. According to the arrest affidavit, the wounds on her hands and arms were believed to have been "defensive wounds." 

According to the arrest affidavit, Nunez told police in an interview:

• He and Cardona drove to Lanze Lane on the evening of July 4, 2012 and parked the car. While there, he got into an argument with her. 
• He assaulted Cardona, then cut her neck with a knife.
• He drove his car from the area, but later returned and poured bleach on her body.