Tuesday March 19th, 2024 5:30AM

D.A.: Moran gets life without parole in Gainesville taxi driver murder

GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville woman was sentenced to life in prison without parole Thursday in murder of a Gainesville taxi driver earlier this year.
 
Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh said a superior court jury found Misty Moran guilty on all counts in the murder of Isaias Tovar-Murillo, 46, of Gainesville.
 
The crime happened at 4:50 a.m. March 16 in the area of Barrett Road and Dorsey Peek Road near the Jackson County line, Hall County authorities said after the incident.
 
"Moran is our primary suspect for the actual shooting," Deputy Nicole Bailes said earlier.
 
Moran was one of five defendants in the robbery-related case.
 
In August, John Justin Adams, Nicholas Allen Gonzalez, and Ignacio Mondragon each pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and gang-related charges. Murder charges against each of them were dismissed.

Adams and Mondragon were each given 30-year sentences by Hall County Superior Court Judge Jason Deal, with 15 to serve in prison and the remainder on probation. Gonzalez was given a 25-year sentence, with 13 to be served behind bars and the rest on probation.
 
The fifth and final suspect in the case, Margarita Leanos, is  expected to go on trial Monday. A jury has already been chosen.
 
Bailes said the victim, Tovar-Murrillo, had worked for Taxi El Palmar for 15 years. She said he lived in the area with his brother.
 
 
AccessWDUN's Ken Stanford and Brian Stewart contributed to this story.
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