Salem man sentenced for murdering teen, hiding body under duplex

Before sentencing a Salem man to life in prison for murdering a local teen and hiding his body under a duplex, Judge Channing Bennett called the act "savage," "callous" and "calculated."

"You are a danger to people," Bennett told Alexander Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette, 21, before a deputy led the man away in handcuffs.

The sentencing Thursday came two months after Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette stood trial for murder, first-degree abuse of a corpse, second-degree abuse of a corpse and hindering prosecution.

After hearing witness testimony and the defense's argument of self-defense, Bennett found him guilty of killing 19-year-old Josiah Bagnall.

Marion County Sheriff's Office deputies found Bagnall's body in the crawl space of a northeast Salem duplex on June 10, 2020. The family living at the home in the 3600 block of 47th Avenue NE called police after smelling a foul odor underneath their home.

An autopsy found Bagnall had been dead for months. His identity remained a mystery.

But when investigators reached out to the public with a physical description of the victim and a sketch of the "Baby Boy" tattoo over his knee, community tips helped them identify Bagnall.

After identifying Bagnall, detectives continued to follow up on community tips and investigative leads, identifying Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette as a suspect and leading to his arrest.

Through the investigation, detectives learned Bagnall was killed in early 2020 at an apartment in the 4600 block of Silverton Road NE.

According to court records, Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette was previously arrested for allegedly breaking into vehicles, fleeing from a deputy and unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm in April 2020.

His listed address was on the 4600 block of Silverton Road NE and was close to the duplex where Bagnall's body was found.

He was released from jail on the firearm and vehicle burglary charges in June 2020.

Claims of self-defense, but prosecutors detail brutal slaying

Earlier this year, Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette waived his right to a jury trial and opted to instead have a bench trial before a judge.

Through his attorney, he filed a motion of his intent to rely on the defense of "self-defense" during his trial. Some testimony indicated an argument preceded the murder and that Bagnall was friends with Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette.

Prosecutor Matthew Kemmy said what followed was an "indignity no human alive or dead should have to endure."

In a rundown house with debris littering the floor and bare walls, Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette stabbed Bagnall 22 times, including a major laceration on the throat and in the back as he was trying to escape. He bled out on the floor before his killer moved him to another room. He buried Bagnall but then later returned to his gravesite, dug up his body, dismembered him and then hid the body under the northeast Salem duplex.

Jonathan Bagnall said the evidence presented during the trial was akin to being a horror movie. He didn't even recognize his brother's body.

"There was no need for this senseless brutality," he said, adding that the violence and lack of remorse were "beyond shocking."

He said his brother trusted Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette. Friends and family described Bagnall as an artist who made elaborate 3D paper sculptures. Jonathan said his brother was a loyal friend and would drop whatever he was doing to help those he loved.

"Josiah Bagnall was like a brother to me," Raven Peterson said tearfully during the sentencing. "Josiah was a beautiful soul. He was pure sunshine. Everywhere he went, the world was a brighter place for his presence."

She addressed Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette.

"You took that life and light away from the world, from me," Peterson said.

She said she had no forgiveness for her friend's killer.

"You didn't just kill him, you darkened our spirits as well," she added. "You left a huge hole in our hearts that was once filled with his love."

Nichole Rose, Peterson's mother, said Bagnall lived with her and brought laughter and light into her home. His death devastated her family.

Judge opts for longer sentence

Jonathan Bagnall said he was thankful to the detectives for unraveling the mystery of his brother's death and to the judge for seeing through the claims of self-defense.

Kemmy requested that, in addition to the life sentence with a 25-year minimum, Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette also get an additional 14 months in prison for the count of first-degree abuse of a corpse due to the lack of remorse and brutality of the crime.

Defense attorney Christopher Burris said life with a 25-year minimum was sufficient.

Under that sentence, Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette could be eligible for parole by the time he is 43. The possibility of parole would give him an incentive to improve and rehabilitate himself, Burris said. He said his client grew up with a learning disability in a world of poverty and abuse.

Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette opted to address the courtroom during his sentencing.

"I am sorry for what happened," he said. "I can't take back what I did ... what I did to him was tragic and I wasn't really thinking."

Bennett said he appreciated Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette's acknowledgment of his wrongdoing. But, he said, the facts of the crime compelled him to give a longer sentence.

He said the crime showed a "deprivation of spirit, coldness and callousness," and Bagnall's slaying showed "no contemplation of him as a human being."

"I don't know how to describe it other than the unmitigated mauling of an individual," Bennett said.

Under the sentence, Mosqueda Rivera-Burdette will be ineligible for alternative programs and early release.

Bagnall's friends and family said nothing will bring Josiah back but seeing his killer held accountable provided some peace.

"I'm grateful for the sentence," Rose said. "I'm grateful to see justice prevail."

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem man sentenced for murdering teen, hiding body under duplex