Case Overview

Anthony Newton, a 45-year-old former convict, is on trial for the horrific murder of Ulisys “Cesar” Molina, a crime that has shocked the Las Vegas community. The case, dating back to 2017, involves a gruesome sequence of events, including dismemberment, arson, and the bizarre discovery of the victim’s severed hand in a mailbox nearly two years later.

The alleged motive stems from a personal betrayal: while Newton was in prison, his wife, Jami Malaperdas, had an affair with Molina, resulting in a pregnancy. According to Newton’s defense, Malaperdas later had an abortion. This betrayal reportedly fueled Newton’s rage, leading to a calculated and violent act of revenge.

The Crime

In December 2016, Newton, along with his brother-in-law and another woman, allegedly lured Molina to the woman’s apartment under false pretenses. Once there, Molina was strangled, decapitated, and dismembered in a brutal attack. His body was then burned and left in a vacant lot outside Las Vegas.

Adding to the horror, Molina’s hands were severed. In a shocking twist, one of the hands was discovered in a mailbox by a 5-year-old boy in 2018, nearly two years after the murder. How the hand ended up there remains a mystery, and investigators have not determined whether the mailbox’s owners had any connection to the crime.

Molina’s head and other hand have never been found, leaving key aspects of the case unresolved.

Legal Proceedings

Newton’s trial has been fraught with complications. In November of the previous year, a mistrial was declared after a co-defendant inadvertently revealed Newton’s prior prison sentence to the jury. This disclosure prompted the judge to halt the proceedings and schedule a retrial.

Newton’s defense attorney, Pam Weckerly, has acknowledged the affair between Molina and Newton’s wife, stating, “This relationship is known by people in Mr. Molina’s family, and it’s not exactly a secret.” However, she has also emphasized that the defense cannot explain how Molina’s severed hand ended up in the mailbox, calling it a “bizarre and grisly” detail.

Newton now faces the death penalty in the retrial, which is expected to last approximately three weeks. Prosecutors are presenting the case as a premeditated and heinous act of revenge, while the defense is likely to focus on challenging the evidence and questioning the credibility of witnesses.

Key Details of the Case

• Victim: Ulisys “Cesar” Molina
• Accused: Anthony Newton, 45, a former convict with an unspecified prior criminal record
• Co-Defendants: Newton’s brother-in-law and another woman, who allegedly assisted in luring Molina to the apartment
• Motive: Revenge for Molina’s affair with Newton’s wife, Jami Malaperdas, while Newton was incarcerated
• Crime Details: Molina was strangled, decapitated, dismembered, and burned. His hands were severed, and one was later found in a mailbox.
• Discovery of the Body: Molina’s burned and dismembered remains were found in a vacant lot outside Las Vegas in 2017.
• Bizarre Twist: A 5-year-old boy discovered one of Molina’s severed hands in a mailbox in 2018.
• Legal Status: Newton is facing the death penalty in a retrial after a mistrial was declared in November due to a co-defendant’s disclosure of Newton’s prison history.

Unanswered Questions

1. How Did the Severed Hand End Up in the Mailbox?
   Investigators have not determined how Molina’s hand was placed in the mailbox or whether the mailbox’s owners had any connection to the crime.
2. Where Are Molina’s Head and Other Hand?
   Despite extensive searches, Molina’s head and other hand have never been found, leaving a haunting gap in the investigation.
3. What Crime Landed Newton in Prison Initially?
   The nature of Newton’s prior conviction, which led to his incarceration during the time of the affair, remains unclear.

Conclusion

The case of Anthony Newton and the murder of Ulisys “Cesar” Molina is a chilling tale of betrayal, revenge, and extreme violence. With its shocking details—including the discovery of a severed hand in a mailbox—the case has captivated public attention and raised numerous questions about the extent of the crime and the motivations behind it. As Newton’s retrial unfolds, the legal proceedings will seek to bring justice for Molina and his family, while shedding light on the dark and twisted events that led to his tragic death.