San Marcos Man Gets 26 Years to Life After Jury Finds He Stabbed Disabled Girlfriend to Death Behind Business After Christmas

A San Diego County man has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for stabbing his girlfriend to death in San Marcos the day after Christmas in 2023.

Ziyah Patterson, 31, was sentenced after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in February.

Prosecutors said Patterson killed Angela Lanway, a 42-year-old woman who was unhoused, disabled, and living with him behind a business at the time of the attack.

Argument Over Music Turned Deadly

According to prosecutors, Patterson and Lanway were staying behind a San Marcos business when an argument began over loud music.

Lanway reportedly asked Patterson to turn the music down. Patterson became angry and then demanded that she return a gift he had given her. When Lanway threw the gift at him, Patterson attacked her.

Prosecutors said he first beat Lanway. Then, after saying the beating was not enough, he pulled out a knife and stabbed her.

Victim Was Stabbed in the Ear and Neck

The attack on Lanway was especially brutal. Prosecutors said Patterson stabbed her in the ear and neck, severing an artery and breaking a bone in her spine.

Lanway was already physically vulnerable before the stabbing. She had hip dysplasia, could not walk without help, and was blind in one eye.

District Attorney Summer Stephan said the case showed how dangerous domestic violence can become when victims are already living in vulnerable conditions, including homelessness.

Patterson Waited Before Calling 911

After the stabbing, prosecutors said Patterson did not immediately help Lanway.

Instead, he waited more than 10 minutes before calling 911. By then, Lanway had suffered fatal injuries.

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At trial, Patterson claimed he acted in self-defense. He also testified that he was the victim of domestic violence. Prosecutors said there was no evidence to support that claim, and Patterson had no injuries.

Prosecutor Says Victim Deserved Justice

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said Lanway’s life mattered and that the justice system held Patterson accountable.

She described the killing as a devastating and senseless loss of life, adding that domestic violence can become even more dangerous when people are living without stable housing or support.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Nicolette Estrada.

Domestic Violence Deaths in San Diego County

The District Attorney’s Office also pointed to broader domestic violence homicide numbers in the county.

In 2024, seven people were killed by a current or former intimate partner. One additional person, such as a family member, new partner, or bystander, was also killed during a domestic violence-related incident.

That was an increase from five domestic violence-related homicides the year before. However, officials said these killings remain below the average seen across the previous two decades. Figures for 2025 are expected to be released later.

Impact and Consequences

The sentence means Patterson will likely spend decades in prison for Lanway’s killing.

For Lanway’s loved ones and the broader community, the case highlights the extreme danger faced by victims of domestic violence, especially those who are unhoused or living with disabilities.

The killing also underscores how quickly domestic disputes can escalate when anger, control, and violence are involved. Prosecutors made clear that Lanway’s vulnerable living situation did not make her life any less valuable or her death any less deserving of accountability.

What’s Next?

Patterson has now been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison following his first-degree murder conviction.

The District Attorney’s Office will continue tracking domestic violence-related homicides in San Diego County. Updated figures for 2025 are not expected for several months.

Summary

Ziyah Patterson, 31, has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, 42-year-old Angela Lanway, in San Marcos.

Prosecutors said the couple was unhoused and living behind a business when Patterson became upset during an argument over music, beat Lanway, and then stabbed her in the ear and neck.

Lanway was disabled and especially vulnerable. Patterson claimed self-defense at trial, but prosecutors said the evidence did not support his claim.

A jury convicted him of first-degree murder in February.

Bulleted Takeaways: Man Who Stabbed Girlfriend to Death the Day After Christmas, Sentenced to Prison

• Ziyah Patterson, 31, was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.
• Patterson was convicted of first-degree murder in February.
• The victim was Angela Lanway, a 42-year-old woman.
• The killing happened in San Marcos in December 2023.
• Patterson and Lanway were unhoused and living behind a business.
• Prosecutors said the argument began after Lanway asked Patterson to turn down his music.
• Patterson beat Lanway before stabbing her with a knife.
• Lanway was stabbed in the ear and neck.
• The stabbing severed an artery and broke a bone in her spine.
• Patterson waited more than 10 minutes before calling 911.
• He claimed self-defense at trial, but prosecutors said there was no evidence supporting that claim.
• Lanway had hip dysplasia, needed help walking, and could not see out of one eye.
• Deputy District Attorney Nicolette Estrada prosecuted the case.
• San Diego County officials said domestic violence-related homicides increased in 2024 compared with the prior year.