Wheaton Attacker In Near Decapitation Murder Sentenced To Prison

WHEATON, MD — A Montgomery County man was sentenced to life in prison with all but 40 years suspended for killing and nearly decapitating a man, prosecutors said.

Jose Lara-Chacon of Wheaton was sentenced Friday in the death of Dimer Diaz Martinez, of an unconfirmed address, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Lara-Chacon will also face five years of supervised probation upon release.

A jury in the Montgomery County Circuit Court found Lara-Chacon, 26, guilty in November for the first-degree murder of Martinez, 21. The murder occurred on Jan. 22, 2021.

Lara-Chacon called 911 to ask for help and told detectives he hit Martinez in the head twice with a baseball bat before he “finished off” the victim, stabbing him in the neck, according to a press release from the State’s Attorney’s Office. He said he had injured Martinez and they had been drinking.

After Lara-Chacon stabbed Martinez, he placed a knife in Martinez’s hand before dialing 911, authorities said..

“Our thoughts are with the family of Dimer Diaz Martinez today. This sort of sudden, vicious violence has no place in our community and the defendant will now be held accountable," said State's Attorney John McCarthy in a statement. "We thank the men and women of the jury for rejecting the defendant’s claim of self-defense and helping to ensure Jose LaraChacon will not be able to harm another person in this way."