Past case: Man sentenced for 2005 murder in Manhattan Beach

A 28-year-old convict was sentenced March 23, 2010, to state prison for a April 2005 murder in Manhattan Beach, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Milton Montiel Gallardo was sentenced to 49 years to life for the rape and murder of Libia Cabrera.

A jury deliberated for a little more than a day before finding Gallardo guilty of one count each of first-degree murder, first-degree residential burglary, forcible rape, sodomy by force and arson.

Cabrera, 41, was found dead on April 11, 2005, in 100 block of 28th Street in Manhattan Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Her badly burned body was found bound and gagged in the 28th Street apartment where she worked as a housekeeper.

According to the deputy district attorney, sheriff’s homicide detectives were able to connect Gallardo to the brutal murder of Cabrera using DNA collected from him in 2007 when he was sent to prison on an unrelated conviction.

-- Maloy Moore

This is an update to an older Homicide Report entry. The Times is committed to reporting and updating past filings.