JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo — A 22-year-old man was sentenced Friday to two life sentences in fatal stabbings that occurred within a 12-hour period in Belmar Park in August 2019.
A jury in Jefferson County District Court found Vicente Orozco guilty in March in the murders of Stevan Sandvick, 61, and Ivan Rodriguez, 19, in the Lakewood park.
According to court records, Orozco was sentenced Friday on the following counts:
- Two counts of first-degree murder, sentenced to life on both counts
- Aggravated robbery, sentenced to 15 years in prison
He was also found guilty of three counts of violent crime with a weapon, which were sentence enhancers, according to court records.
Sandvick's body was found Aug. 15, 2019, with several stab wounds by someone who was walking near the Colorado Fallen Firefighter's Memorial on the north corner of the park near Allison Parkway.
Just before midnight, on the same morning, a man called police and said he and a friend were in Belmar Park when an unknown man began stabbing one of them, according to the Lakewood Police Department.
That victim, identified as Rodriguez, died at the hospital a few days later. He was at the park to play soccer with a friend.
RELATED: Man fatally stabbed while playing soccer in Belmar Park was a recent Jefferson Jr/Sr High graduate
Orozco was arrested a few days after the stabbings at McLain Community High School, where he was a student.
In the video below, which aired Aug. 22, 2019, former teachers remembered one of the fatal stabbing victims:
> Top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER right now to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER for top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
HOW TO ADD THE 9NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9NEWS" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.