Doctor killer sentenced to 25 years to life

WHITE PLAINS – One of two men, who were involved in the January 3, 2007 murder of a pediatric physician in Yonkers, was sentenced Wednesday in Westchester County Court to 25 years to life in prison.

Samuel Saunders, 61, of the Bronx, was alleged to have killed Dr. Leandro Lozada along with an accomplice. Juan Bernardez, 30, of the Bronx, is awaiting trial for the same crime.

Yonkers Police were called to 43 Brendon Hill Road in January of last year to a report of an unconscious man. Emergency medical personnel responded to the home and found the doctor had been shot in the head. He was pronounced dead minutes later.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that while at the doctor’s house, the two men forced the victim to transfer money from an investment account to his checking account and write out a check.

Later that same day, Saunders deposited the check for $57,000 on the victim’s bank account into his own checking account.

Saunders was convicted on four counts of second degree murder, kidnapping in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

Dr. Lozada’s death was “a tremendous loss to the Dominican community and to our community as a whole,” said Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore.