A Utah man has been sentenced to 30 years for beating his wife to death on an Alaskan cruise.
“In 2017 Kenneth Manzanares brutally murdered his wife Kristy Manzanares while on an Alaskan cruise with their three daughters and extended family members,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska in a news release Thursday.
This is pure evil. He should have received a life sentence or worse, 30 years just isn’t enough. The five years of supervision they tacked on at the end of his sentence is a joke. The only reassurance is he’ll have to do the entire 30 years since it’s federal time.
“This was not a random act of violence but a chilling neglect for human life for which he will serve 30 years in federal prison, where there is no parole ever.”
Kenneth Manzanares, 43, pleaded guilty in February of 2020 to second-degree murder after prosecutors said he killed his wife while on the Emerald Princess cruise ship outside southeast Alaska on July 25, 2017.
Manazanares told investigators was arguing with his wife about his behavior that evening when Kristy Manzanares said she wanted a divorce and told him to get off in Juneau and go home to Utah, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Alaska.
According to statements made during the plea deal, Kenneth told their two daughters to leave the room, but they came back in and saw him straddling Kristy and punching her repeatedly in the head.
Kristy Manzanares’ father and two brothers came to the room and one of her brothers reported seeing Kenneth drag her body toward the balcony before pulling her back into the cabin, the news release stated.
Medical personnel unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate Kristy Manzanares that evening around 9:00 p.m. Authorities later determined that she died of blunt force trauma to the head and face.
Prosecutors had sought life in prison for Kenneth Manzanares, while Manzanares’ attorneys requested 7 1/2 years.
Manzanares looked back briefly, toward two of his daughters sat in the courtroom, before being led out after the sentence was announced.
“While today’s sentence will not bring Kristy back to her family and friends, we hope it provides a sense of justice for this heinous crime and brings some closure to those who knew and cared about her,” Wilson stated.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
