Lincoln man sentenced to life in prison for 2021 killing of Carly Schaaf

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The man convicted in the murder and rape of 23-year-old Carly Schaaf — along with the rape of two other women — was sentenced Thursday.

Joesef Barraza, 28, of Lincoln got life in prison for first-degree murder.

Judge Lori Maret also tacked on 120 to 150 years in prison for three counts of first-degree sexual assault.

He was given zero days credit for time served.

On June 23, a jury found Barraza guilty of Schaaf’s murder and rape.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln man convicted of first-degree murder in 2021 killing of Carly Schaaf

Court documents say Schaaf was one of three women he raped.

Schaaf was reported missing on May 19, 2021. Her body was found a month later at Pawnee Lake west of Lincoln.

An autopsy revealed that she had been drugged and suffocated, according to court documents.

Her body also had stab wounds that had been inflicted after death, an arrest affidavit says.

SEE ALSO: Records: Carly Schaaf died by homicide

Barraza bleached Schaaf’s hair in an effort to change her appearance, then hid her body at the lake.

This sentencing comes more than four years after Schaaf’s death, and two other people are still awaiting sentencing in connection with the killing.

Police said Barraza’s brother, then-16-year-old Danyl Barraza, helped him dispose of the body. He is charged with accessory to a felony.

The older Barraza’s girlfriend, 29-year-old Rachel Pageler, pleaded guilty to accessory to manslaughter on Aug. 7.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln woman pleads guilty to accessory charge in killing of Carly Schaaf

Danyl is due back in court on Aug. 18, and Pageler has a sentencing scheduled for Oct. 2.