A man who pleaded no contest to sexual assaults on two women near the Venice Canals, including one who later died, was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Anthony Francisco Jones, 30, pleaded no contest to one count each of murder, sexual penetration by use of force, mayhem, torture and sodomy by use of force, along with two counts of forcible rape, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Jones also admitted allegations that one of the victims was murdered during the commission of a rape and sodomy and that he kidnapped and inflicted great bodily injury on the victims, according to the District Attorney's Office.
The attacks occurred within about an hour as the two women -- who were in their mid-40s and mid-50s, were attacked and sexually assaulted while alone outside April 6 between about 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., according to the District Attorney's Office.
Authorities said the first attack occurred about 10:30 p.m. April 6 in the 2700 block of Strongs Drive, where Sarah Alden was approached from behind and struck with a blunt object, leaving her unconscious.
The suspect similarly attacked another woman about an hour later as she was walking near the Sherman Canal. That woman also suffered severe injuries but survived.
Alden -- a 53-year-old Massachusetts resident who was a mother of two sons and in the process of moving to Venice when she was attacked -- was in a coma after the attack and was subsequently declared brain dead and then taken off life support about 1 1/2 months later.
Alden's friends gathered for a candlelight vigil in her honor in June.
Prosecutors added the murder charge against Jones after her death.
Jones was arrested in San Diego a few days after the attacks. He has remained behind bars since then, according to jail records.
"I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the dedicated professionals in our Sex Crimes Division and the investigating officers from the Los Angeles Police Department," District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. "Their tireless efforts and commitment to justice have been instrumental in holding the offender accountable and providing a measure of justice for the victims."