PHOENIX, Arizona — A Russian illegal alien will spend the rest of his life in prison for the execution-style murder of his girlfriend in 2015. The victim, an Arizona State University student, previously requested a restraining order.
According to information made public by the Maricopa County Superior Court, Igor Zubko a Russian national has been sentenced to a life in prison term for the murder of 22-year-old Shayley Estes. Prior to the murder, Zubko sent a text message warning Estes of a brutal murder “from Russia with love.”
Zubko killed Estes after she ended their relationship. The victim feared for her life had requested a protective order to keep Zubko away; she was murdered 10 days after it was granted. Even though he was in the country illegally and was unable to lawfully do so, Zubko purchased a handgun and broke into Estes’ apartment. While waiting for the victim to return from work, Zubko drank some beers and broke a TV. When the victim arrived, he shot her five times — three in her back.
The victim’s roommate discovered her body lying in the kitchen of their apartment with multiple gunshot wounds. Zubko attempted to flee Arizona but was arrested at Sky Harbor International Airport after purchasing a one-way ticket to San Francisco.
Zubko previously pleaded guilty to the murder in order to avoid facing a possible death penalty. He traveled to the U.S. from Russia and then overstayed his student visa. Prosecutors say he desperately wanted to become an American citizen and Shayley previously agreed to help him, but she ultimately ended the relationship.
“It’s all the justice we can get right now–there really truly is no justice when your child doesn’t come home,” said Shayley’s mother, Shannon Estes.
Estes’ family previously spoke about the case with Breitbart News when the relatives of three victims who had their children murdered by illegal aliens shared their stories.