Life sentence

An Allentown man was sentenced to life in prison following his conviction in the murder of a Whitehall Township woman in 2012.

Jonathan Nunez, 21, was convicted last month in the murder of Kimberly Cardona, 20. Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kelly L. Banach sentenced Nunez Aug. 30.

Lehigh County First Assistant District Attorney Steven M. Luksa said Nunez remained in prison as of Sept. 4 and was to be sent to state prison to serve his life sentence.

Convicted of first degree murder, Nunez is not eligible for parole by law, Luksa explained, describing the verdict as appropriate.

"All homicide cases are difficult because of the finality associated with loss of life and somebody took that life," Luksa said.

According to court documents made available through the website for the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Criminal Division, a body was discovered on the side of road in the 2700 block of Lanze Lane, Salisbury Township, on July 5, 2012. Court documents described the area where the body was found as wooded. The body later was identified as the remains of Kimberly Cardona.

Media reports at the time of the body's recovery noted Cardona suffered injuries to her head, face, neck, hands, legs and torso. Cardona's death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grimm, according to court documents.

Nunez was arrested in Cardona's death less than a month after the young woman's body was found.

According to court documents, Nunez told police he and Cardona argued and he struck her multiple times, abandoning her at the scene of the fight July 4, 2012. Cardona was described as having difficulty breathing when Nunez left her. Nunez later returned to where he left Cardona and attacked her with a knife, killing her and leaving her body where it was later found in Salisbury Township. Cardona then fled to New Jersey, New York, and the Dominican Republic.

Nunez, escorted by his attorney, turned himself in to Salisbury Township police on Aug. 2, 2012. Nunez was arrested the same day after a lengthy interview with police, according to court documents.

The trial for Nunez started Aug. 12 and closing arguments took place Aug. 19. The jury returned a verdict in about three hours, Luksa said.

"The impact is tremendous," Luksa said of homicide cases.