Arizona man sentenced for ‘calculated’ murder of estranged wife

FLORENCE, Ariz. — A man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his estranged wife last year in Pinal County by stabbing her up to 43 times.

Javier Lopez was sentenced in Pinal County Superior Court last week after he pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Christina Lopez, who was killed on April 11, 2024, near Florence.

One of the couple’s three children was outside the home when the violent attack occurred and reported hearing screaming and crying, according to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office.

“This was a calculated, premeditated act of murder that robbed a mother of her life and young children of their mother,” Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller said in a statement.

>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone. 

You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app!

The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

12+  showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.

Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.

Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.”

Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12+ app to add to your account, or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.