Juan Hayden didn’t just fatally stab Susan Jeffries in 2019.

First, he beat and strangled her.

Hayden’s efforts to make the Tarentum woman suffer, along with his history of domestic violence, led prosecutors to seek the maximum penalty of 20 to 40 years in prison when he was sentenced Tuesday following his conviction in October.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski ordered Hayden to serve 15 to 40 years in prison for third-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

The prosecution called three members of Jeffries’ family to give victim impact statements, including her parents, who asked for the maximum sentence.

Her brother, Tom Jeffries, also testified.

“She was a good person and cared deeply for other people,” he said.

Jeffries said he hopes Hayden feels remorse and reconciles what he did with God, but that he should be punished.

“Mr. Hayden needs to pay for his actions while spending the rest of his life behind bars,” he said.

Police were called to East Ninth Avenue in Tarentum on Aug. 30, 2019, where they found Susan Jeffries, 55, who had been stabbed in the stomach. She died later at a Pittsburgh hospital.

Hayden, with whom Jeffries had a relationship, initially told police he was with her earlier in the day but left when she brought another man home.

Hayden, 59, of Tarentum, claimed that when he returned, he found her wounded on the kitchen floor. However, when police questioned Hayden, they noted cuts on his arms.

He claimed Jeffries lunged at him with a knife, and he fought back and stabbed her.

On Tuesday, Hayden told the court he believed that witnesses lied.

“I feel that I’ve been railroaded in this case,” he said. “I think my conviction should be set aside.”

Borkowski denied the request.

Defense attorney Casey Mullen, who was appointed to represent Hayden at sentencing, had little to say.

“Mr. Hayden, although he does maintain his innocence, realizes the loss that has occurred,” Mullen said.

Mullen asked that a new attorney be appointed for Hayden’s appeals, and Borkowski said he would do so.

In sentencing Hayden, Borkowski said the victim was killed “as a result of the defendant’s ill-founded and inaccurate belief another man was present.

“It amounts to a matter of ego and jealousy that led to this senseless act of violence.”

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