Man Convicted of Killing Girlfriend, Leaving Body in Studio City Park

A 27-year-old man was today convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 stabbing death of his estranged girlfriend.

Stephen Todd Joanou Jr. attacked Patrina Sabella, 32, of Rosamond, and left her body near a baseball field in a Studio City park in the early morning hours of March 20, 2012.

Joanou was arrested later that afternoon and has remained jailed since then.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 8 in Van Nuys. Joanou -- who has two previous felony drug convictions and another for grand theft -- faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life.

Sabella's daughter, who was 7 years old at the time of her mother's death, was adopted at birth by a family friend.

--City News Service