Son gets life without parole in parents’ murders

A 19-year-old who plotted with his best friend to kill his parents was sentenced Monday to two prison terms of life without parole.

Timothy Chester pleaded guilty in February to two counts of murder with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary for the September 2009 slayings of Thomas and Carla Chester.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors recommended the life prison terms and Chester avoided the death penalty.

Timothy Chester did not speak at the sentencing hearing before District Judge Donald Mosley.

Authorities said Chester plotted the deaths, and then his best friend, Victor Veliz, 20, carried out the killings. Veliz's death penalty trial has been delayed until March.

Thomas Chester suffered two gunshot wounds to the head and his wife suffered from several stab wounds and blunt-force trauma.

Prosecutors have described Timothy Chester as a lazy, selfish, high school dropout who got angry with his parents when they asked him to help out around the house.

Defense lawyers suggested that Thomas Chester, 57, was an abusive alcoholic who often yelled and that Carla Chester, 51, was an overbearing mother who once hit her son with a cane.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.