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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Maximum sentence handed down to Guajardo for role in 2015 murder, dismemberment

Alvaro Guajardo, 54, was sentenced to 47 years in prison on Thursday for being one of four suspects in the 2015 murder of Bret R. Snow that resulted from a botched drug deal. (Will Campbell/The Spokesman-Review)

A man convicted of murdering and dismembering another man in 2015 was sentenced to 47 years in prison on Thursday.

A jury convicted Alvaro Guajardo, 54, on June 20 for his role in the 2015 murder of Bret R. Snow that resulted from a botched drug deal in Newman Lake. According to witnesses, Guajardo “finished off Mr. Snow,” Spokane County Superior Court Judge Raymond Clary said.

“I think the circumstances, as evidence has shown, are evil,” Clary said Thursday.

Clary gave Guajardo the maximum sentence for his role in the murder of Snow, whose remains have not been found.

“It still saddens us that no one will tell us where his remains are,” said Snow’s mother, Lori Rison.

Two of the other three suspects, Cheryl L. Sutton, 39, and Colby D. Vodder, 29, have been convicted. Kenneth L. Stone, 35, will be the final suspect and stands trial in October.

Guajardo did not give a statement because it may affect an appeal he may file in the future, according to his attorney Travis Jones.

A chaplain for the Spokane County Jail, Doug Fischer, told the judge he had known Guajardo for years since he was arrested. Fischer said Guajardo has attended many Bible studies and has become a better person while in jail.

“What I’ve seen in him is a truly transformed person,” he said.

One of Snow’s family friends, Katherine Lowry, said if Guajardo were truly remorseful, he would have disclosed the whereabouts of Snow’s remains. She also mentioned Guajardo’s demeanor in court, which reportedly included him smiling and joking last month.

“We have seen no remorse,” she said.