On October 15, 2025, Clark County District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt sentenced Roidan Durruthy Mendoza, 40, to life in prison plus additional consecutive terms for deadly weapon enhancements. Mendoza had pleaded guilty in August to murder with use of a deadly weapon in the August 2023 killing of Marillorky Tamayo Cruz, his former spouse.
According to prosecutors, the killing occurred just hours after Mendoza and Tamayo appeared in family court, where Tamayo was awarded custody of their children and the family home.
Prosecutors said Mendoza, “upset that he was losing control,” ambushed Tamayo at her Las Vegas apartment. He fired multiple rounds, killing her execution-style in front of their 2-year-old and 14-year-old children. Several other family members were injured in the gunfire.
Adding to the devastation, Mendoza had allegedly emptied the family’s bank account before the shooting, leaving no funds for Tamayo’s funeral or for the care of her children.
During the sentencing hearing, Tamayo’s mother, Marilu Cruz Tamayo, wept as she described the pain of losing her daughter and the trauma inflicted on her grandchildren, who witnessed the killing.
Judge Leavitt condemned Mendoza’s actions as a calculated act of violence driven by revenge. “This was not a moment of passion,” prosecutors argued. “It was a deliberate attempt to punish a woman for asserting her rights and protecting her children.”
The case underscores the dangers faced by victims of domestic violence during separation and custody disputes. Advocates note that the period immediately following a breakup or custody ruling is often the most dangerous for survivors.
Tamayo’s children, now left without their mother, are being cared for by extended family. Community members have rallied to support them, with local organizations highlighting the need for stronger protections for families navigating domestic violence and family court proceedings.
The Mendoza case has reignited conversations in Nevada about the intersection of family court, domestic violence, and firearm access. Legal experts point out that while protective orders and custody rulings are designed to safeguard victims, they can also escalate tensions in volatile relationships.
“This tragedy is a reminder that custody battles are not just legal disputes,” said one advocate. “They are life-and-death situations for many families.”
For the Tamayo family, the sentence brings a measure of justice but not closure. “I have a lot of pain,” Tamayo’s mother told the court. “My daughter is gone, and my grandchildren will carry this trauma forever.”
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