Santa in Boston Court Tuesday, Accused of 'Grisly' Murder

BOSTON, MA — A 25-year-old is facing first-degree murder charges Tuesday in Boston court, accused of stabbing a 50-year-old to death in East Boston in 2012.

Lawyers will present their opening statements Tuesday in the case against Cristian Santa, of Revere.

He stands accused in a crime previously described as "among the grisliest" ever encountered by investigators with the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

John Barrientos, of East Boston, was killed in the basement boiler room of his Chelsea Street apartment building around 5 a.m. on May 4, 2012, then dragged outside to an alleyway, where his remains were found about an hour later, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said at the time.

Later reports state Barrientos was stabbed more than 100 times, and his teeth were pulled out.

Bloody fingerprints and other forensic evidence at the scene pointed to Santa, whom prosecutors at the time said was drinking with Barrientos into the early hours of that May 4 morning. Witnesses told authorities that they later heard screams and “thudding” sounds at about 5 a.m., the DA's office said.

Santa pleaded guilty at his 2012 arraignment.

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