Michael Roque sentenced 20 years to life for murder at Binghamton University

Show Caption Hide Caption VIDEO: See Judge Dooley address Michael Roque at sentencing Michael Roque was sentenced to 20 years to life for the April murder of Joao Souza on Binghamton University's campus.

Michael Roque bought the knife in August, eight months before it would be used to stab fellow Binghamton University student Joao Souza in his own dormitory.

Before that, jealousy had been festering in the 20-year-old from Long Island. He'd transferred to BU to be with his ex-girlfriend from high school, but their relationship had ended.

The night of April 15, a disguised Roque sneaked into the Windham Hall dorm room of his perceived romantic foil: 19-year-old Souza, a graduate of Blind Brook High School in Westchester County. Roque ambushed Souza in the bathroom and stabbed him repeatedly before the attack carried into the bedroom, until Souza's final words to his assailant were that he was sorry for having a relationship with Roque's former girlfriend.

Roque learned his fate Tuesday in Broome County Court: 20 years to life in prison for his guilty plea to second-degree murder.

Describing this killing as a classic case of jealousy and vengeance that ruined many lives, Judge Kevin Dooley added all of it could have easily been avoided. The judge had the final say on whether Roque could serve the minimum penalty of 15 years to life; prosecutors had agreed to cap the sentence at 20 years to life.

"This is a cold-blooded execution," Dooley told Roque of the murder. "You have no remorse."

The path to murder

Broome County District Attorney Steve Cornwell revealed in court Tuesday how Roque's movements unfolded leading up to the killing, details of which Roque tried to dispute.

Roque had purchased the murder weapon at a local Walmart store. The night of the stabbing, he plotted several steps to conceal the crime and avoid detection by law enforcement officials.

Among the first moves: Roque set up his laptop at BU's campus library ahead of time, Cornwell said, so the computer's signal would indicate that was where he was when Souza was killed.

Next, Roque scouted out where security cameras were posted around campus. Cornwell said this was so he could walk to and from the crime scene without being spotted on footage.

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Security footage did photograph the suspect after the killing, which happened around 10 p.m., but did little to identify him — Roque had concealed his face, wore a hood and gloves.

To gain access to Souza's residence hall, Cornwell said, he stood between doors leading into the building and pretended to be on his phone while he waited for someone to leave and then caught the door before it shut.

Souza's roommate witnessed the early moments of the attack and fled the room in fear.

The clothes Roque wore while committing the murder and the knife used were later hidden around the BU library.

Cornwell said investigators processed evidence from an "extremely gruesome" crime where Souza was killed: "There was so much blood; it smelled like a butchery."

But once police officers had pieced together enough evidence, Cornwell said, they found a sleeping Roque in his own dorm room on April 16 and arrested him.

Roque used Tuesday's sentencing to offer a different version of the story: He spent most of the afternoon of April 15 at the library, and was about to return there around the time of the killing.

Several attempts by Roque to maintain innocence resulted in Dooley cutting him off, directing all comments to focus on sentencing.

Roque claimed Tuesday that while walking around BU campus the night of the murder, he encountered the actual suspect.

"Yo bro," he told the perpetrator before giving chase. He caught up to the suspect, and while he didn't recognize him, he described the suspect as 10 to 20 pounds lighter than himself.

Not knowing what else to do, he said, he went back to his dorm.

Roque told his story with his head bowed and he took deep breaths while shuffling through 10 pages of prepared remarks. Seated in the courtroom gallery were three members of Roque's family, their eyes full of tears.

Twice in earlier court appearances, Roque tried to back out of his guilty plea by claiming he'd been "backed into a corner" and was dissatisfied by his legal representation.

Speaking Tuesday, Roque told Dooley: "I know I'm wrongfully being sentenced."

Video: Binghamton University murderer sentenced Judge Kevin Dooley speaks to Michael Roque about the murder of Joao Souza on Binghamton University's campus.

Joao Souza: 'A sweet and sound soul'

After his death, friends of Joao Souza fondly recalled him as an often-smiling lanky teen with thick, dark hair and a Brazilian accent that gave him away instantly.

Members of Souza's immediate family, who are from Brazil, couldn't attend Tuesday's sentencing.

Carla Sarkis, a New York resident who described herself as a surrogate mother to Souza, grew emotional as she read a statement by his family aloud in court.

Joao, she recalled, was "a sweet and sound soul. Joao was amazed by life, and it showed."

VIDEO: Hear tributes to Joao Souza at BU vigil Joao Souza was fatally stabbed April 15 in his dorm room suite inside Windham Hall on the Binghamton University campus.

He was remembered as being popular among those who knew him because he was spiritual — not because of his good looks or intelligence; the 19-year-old was studying engineering at BU.

Then, Sarkis turned her words on Roque and the manner in which he killed Souza. This was an inhuman act that can never be excused, she said, and now his loved ones will grieve his loss for the rest of her lives.

"Nothing will ever make up for Joao's life," Sarkis said at the close of her statement. "Wherever you are, Joao, God bless you son."

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