Man sentenced to 26 years to life for 2015 murder of ex-girlfriend

REDWOOD CITY >> A Redwood City man found guilty earlier this year of murder in the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend was sentenced Wednesday to 26 years to life in prison, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Anthony Kirincic, 24, was convicted in March of first-degree murder for killing 34-year-old Colleen Straw in 2015.

The sentencing Wednesday occurred nearly three years after the death of Straw, who was stabbed to death Nov. 28, 2015, inside her home in the 1500 block of B Street in San Mateo. On the day she died, Straw called police around noon to report that she had been stabbed. Paramedics found Straw critically injured from several stab wounds, and despite their best efforts were unable to save her.

Police immediately began searching for Kirincic, who just one week earlier had been released from jail stemming from a domestic violence conviction for punching Straw in the face. Kirincic pleaded no contest to assault charges and served half of a 120day jail sentence. A judge ordered him to have no contact with Straw.

Following a two-day manhunt, police tracked Kirincic to his mother’s home on Massachusetts Avenue in Redwood City and arrested him after a two-hour standoff.

Straw’s family addressed the court Wednesday at the sentencing hearing and addressed their frustration at the system’s failure to protect Straw after Kirincic’s first arrest for domestic violence, prosecutors said.

Straw’s family previously told this newspaper that she always saw the best in people. Straw worked as a graphic designer for American Greetings Corp., which makes greeting cards and party goods. Straw enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Her Chihuahua, Rocky, was her constant companion.

“She was a very loyal friend who enjoyed life,” said her mother, Ann Straw. “We could not have been more proud of her.”