Rubidoux woman sentenced to 23 years for South Whittier murder-robbery
A Rubidoux woman was sentenced March 8 to 23 years to life in prison for stabbing a woman to death before a robbery, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Two month ago, jurors found Vanessa Celaya, a 30-year-old Latina, guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Michelle Alexis Young, 31. In addition, Celaya was found guilty of first-degree residential robbery.
Jurors also found true a special allegation that Celaya used a knife to commit the crime.
About 11 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2014, Celaya walked up to Young in South Whittier and started an argument, according to prosecutors.
During the exchange, Celaya pulled out a knife and stabbed Young. After the stabbing, Celaya broke into a tire shop, threatened a security guard and demanded a change of clothes, prosecutors said.
Authorities were called, and police apprehended Celaya near the store, prosecutors said.
Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @jeromercampbell and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.
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