Fort Campbell judge: Santiago 'sentenced to life' for wife's murder

Sgt. 1st Class Joseph A. Santiago was sentenced to life with the eligibility of parole, plus six months, on Wednesday at Fort Campbell one day after a jury found the defendant guilty of murdering his wife and harming their unborn child.

The courtroom at Fort Campbell before Judge John H. Cook was filled with emotion as the families of Meghan Santiago and Joseph A. Santiago sat listening to testimonies, prepared to hear what sentence Santiago would receive.

Fort Campbell soldier Santiago was charged on Sept. 27, 2021 in connection with the death of his pregnant wife, Meghan, and injury to their unborn child after an incident that occurred on base. Santiago was first taken into custody Sept. 28, 2021 and held at the Grayson County Jail in Kentucky, pending an investigation by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Meghan's mother recalls her 'best friend'

Andrea Varcak, Meghan's mother, was the first of victim's family to take the stand.

Meghan was the only child of Andrea and called Meghan her "best friend."

Looking at pictures of Meghan with her children Caleb and Ava, her mother described her daughter as "a good mom, who is being Meghan, smiling and hugging her children."

When asked by prosecution attorney Maj. Heather Tregle if she loved Meghan, Varcak said, "Yes, I do."

Breaking the news to Meghan's mother

The tearful testimonies continued as Meghan's cousin, Kristen Varcak, went to the stand.

"Meghan and I were close," said Kristen as she teared up on the stand. "We spent many birthday parties and holidays together, played softball together, learned to swim together."

The cousin described how she saw Meghan as a sister as they grew up in Spring Hill, Florida — someone she looked up to and wanted to be like at Meghan's age. As they grew up, they saw each other less but the love was still just as strong. Anytime Meghan was in town, Kristen and her sister Emily made sure to see her.

The unexpected death of Meghan crushed her world.

"When I got the phone call from my sister about Meghan's condition, my heart fell deep inside my stomach," said Kristen after a pause as she cried. Even though both Kristen and Emily were struggling with the news it was nothing compared to the feeling they had when they broke the news to Meghan's mom, Andrea.

"We walked in the nursing home and took a deep breath outside the room," Kristen said. "We walked in and Aunt Andrea was talking about how excited she was that Meghan would be coming to visit in two weeks."

"We had to tell her she wouldn't be coming," Kristen said.

Taking a moment to try to get control of the sadness, she added, "I forget the lost stare and blank look she had when we told her."

Since Meghan's death, Kristen and Emily Varcak have taken responsibility for her mother, who has suffered from strokes and is in a wheelchair.

Watching their aunt handle the death of her only child has been difficult for both Kristen and Emily.

"Meghan and her grandchildren were everything to her and now it's like she doesn't have a purpose to take care of herself or to be healthy," Emily Varcak said, weeping how she hasn't properly grieved someone she loved as a sister.

Retired Fort Campbell EMT Shaughnessy Berrios also provided testimony to the court, remembering the night of Sept. 27, 2021, when she went to the home of Meghan and Joseph Santiago.

Once at the scene of the crime, she and her partner asked Joseph questions regarding Meghan's medical history, important questions that were not answered by Joseph.

"The medical history is very critical to ask as for as caring for the patient," Berrios said. "It helps us know what care to give."

When asked by Berrios' partner at the scene of the crime if Meghan was pregnant or on any medication, Berrios said the defendant responded with "f--- if I know."

On the other side of the courtroom Joseph's parents, Stacy Carter and Joe Santiago, sat behind their son — often seen wiping her eyes or with her head down.

Once the defense called for Carter to take the stands, her tears began to fall as soon as she sat to face the judge, who asked how she knew the defendant.

"He's my firstborn, he's my son," she said.

As her son continued to grow, Carter said she saw the characteristics of anger his father had in her son, becoming easily triggered growing up in a house with abuse.

"I just stayed and hoped it would get better," Carter said sobbing. "I failed him. I should've packed out bags and run away with my son. But I didn't because I didn't know how. I failed you and I'm sorry. He has good in him, he has the biggest heart."

As his mother spoke, Santiago sat with his eyes looking down at the table, only putting his head down and wiping his eyes with tissues when his mother apologized and walked off the stand.

Santiago: 'I am so sorry and I hope she can forgive me'

Walking up to the microphone for his testimony, Santiago's tears ran down his face, a tissue in one hand and a notepad in the other.

"I am sorry about my wife," Santiago said while facing the judge. "I am so sorry and I hope she can forgive me. I wish we could have raised our kids together. To her mother, I'm sorry that I failed you and her," Santiago said after a deep breath. "I honored to love her and I did not live to that promise. To my children, I am sorry for everything."

"Nothing I can say or do will bring Meghan back and though my words sound hollow, they are true," he said through his tears as he looked at Meghan's family. "I'm very sorry, regardless of what happens next, I'm very sorry."

Judge Cook makes his decision

A day full of emotional testimony and impact statements ended as the judge announced a recess to deliberate on the decision.

After a three-hour recess, Judge Cook entered the courtroom at 6:45 p.m. to announce the sentence. The silence of the courtroom was the first in the courtroom as both families stood.

"Santiago, you will be dishonorably discharged and sentenced to life with eligibility of parole for Charge One and six months for Charge Two."

Reporter Kenya Anderson can be reached at kanderson@nashvill.gannett.com or on Twitter at KenyaAnderson32.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Fort Campbell judge: Santiago 'sentenced to life' for wife's murder