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Apex man gets life sentence for Fuquay teen's murder

An Apex man was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing a Fuquay-Varina girl in 2011, authorities said.

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Patricia Perez
PITTSBORO, N.C. — An Apex man was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing a Fuquay-Varina girl in 2011, authorities said.

Gabriel Alejandro Maricio Lopez, 21, stabbed Maria Patricia Perez, 15, to death in August 2011 and dumped her body at Jordan Lake. Fishermen found the girl's body near a fishing ramp off Farrington Road, about a mile north of U.S. Highway 64 in Chatham County.

Authorities said Lopez killed her because he believed he had gotten her pregnant.

Alejanero Prada Sanchez, 20, also was charged with murder in the case. Investigators said they believe he was present when Perez was killed.

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