Search Results for: Texas

Texas man allegedly ambushes pregnant ex-girlfriend in home invasion

Fort Worth, TX A Texas man is accused of breaking into his pregnant ex-girlfriend’s home and shooting her and her mother. Christopher Mike, 32, allegedly entered through a back door and hid inside until Sylvia Scott arrived on Tuesday with her mother, Allura Stewart.

Scott reported that she was shot in the neck as she entered through the garage door. Stewart described the incident, stating Mike appeared unexpectedly and shot her daughter before turning the gun on her.

Stewart managed to escape after being shot and called 911. The shooting occurred in front of Mike’s three children, who authorities say were not targeted but are now experiencing nightmares.

Scott indicated that Mike had been violent during their relationship, which ended recently. She believes he tracked her location using an Apple iPad he had left with her.

Online records indicate Mike faces charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, and kidnapping. He was being held without bond and is scheduled for a court appearance on January 5, 2026.

Texas woman charged with murder after Christmas Eve shooting

San Antonio, TX – A Texas woman has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of her boyfriend on Christmas Eve morning. Courtney Renee Hooper, 36, allegedly shot her 42-year-old boyfriend, who has not been publicly identified, during an argument over a car and a cellphone.

Bexar County Sheriff’s deputies responded around 6:30 a.m. to the 100 block of Mallow Grove for reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest; paramedics attempted lifesaving measures but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hooper was taken into custody shortly after the incident. According to law enforcement, the dispute escalated dramatically, leading to the shooting. Local news captured her arrest as she was being transported to jail.

She claimed she was protecting herself when asked for a statement. Sheriff Javier Salazar noted that she presented a video to investigators, believing it would clear her name, yet it increased suspicion against her.

Salazar described the case as clear-cut after viewing the footage. He also indicated that the address had a history of previous domestic-related calls, though most involved individuals other than the victim.

The sheriff highlighted a concerning trend where domestic violence incidents tend to rise during holidays. He stressed the importance of addressing domestic violence, as it often escalates without intervention.

Hooper remains in custody at the Bexar County Jail without bond. She is scheduled for a court hearing on March 24.

Texas mother sentenced to life for killing infant daughter

Mathis, TX A Texas woman has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her infant daughter. Olivia Munoz, 22, pleaded guilty to charges of murder and injury to a child related to the death of her 7-month-old daughter, Hazel Munoz.

According to the San Patricio County District Attorney’s Office, the guilty plea occurred in October. The judge imposed two life terms during this hearing, following the terms of her plea deal.

Munoz was taken into custody by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice this week. The fatal incident occurred on December 19, when law enforcement received a 911 call from Munoz’s residence on South Marigold Street.

Emergency Medical Services responded around 6:30 a.m. and found Hazel unresponsive. Despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at ER 24/7 Northwest in Corpus Christi, located approximately 22 miles southeast of Mathis.

Mathis Police Chief Guillermo Figueroa stated investigators learned that Munoz had found her daughter not breathing and immediately called for help. Hospital staff later notified police about the injuries on Hazel’s body.

During initial questioning, Munoz confessed to hurting her daughter on three separate occasions and admitted to not seeking medical help afterward. At the time, she was pregnant and a mother to another child aged one year and five months.

Following the autopsy, investigators noted several fractures on Hazel’s arms, ribs, and skull. The results turned over to law enforcement in January indicated the cause of death was homicide, prompting charges to be upgraded to murder.

Munoz allegedly shared her feelings of anger toward her baby, attributing her actions to issues with the child’s father. The Texas Rangers became involved, and Munoz faced an indictment in March on two counts of capital murder and one count of injury to a child.

In October 2024, Munoz accepted a plea deal to reduce one murder charge and plead guilty to the remaining counts.

Texas man kills girlfriend and hides body in barrel

Houston, TX
A man allegedly shot his girlfriend while she slept and then concealed her body in trash bags. Jesus Varela, 48, is accused of killing Christelrose Angel Ramirez, 33, on December 1 at their home in Independence Heights.

During a court hearing last week, a judge stated that Varela threatened his nephew and allegedly forced him to assist in disposing of Ramirez’s body. Prosecutors claim Varela shot Ramirez while she was in bed, resulting in blood spatter throughout the bedroom.

Family members described Ramirez as a victim of domestic violence. Her father, Ricardo Ramirez, expressed a desire for justice and condemned the act, stating no one deserves to die in such a manner.

A friend of Varela’s nephew reported the incident to authorities. The nephew later admitted he was compelled by Varela to participate in the body disposal and alleged that Varela had assaulted him.

Authorities located Ramirez’s body by tracing her phone signal to a wooded area where her remains were discovered. Varela has been charged with murder, assault, and unlawful restraint.

Currently held on bonds totaling $240,000, Varela is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Man charged with abusing grandchildren in Texas home

Waco, TX
A 52-year-old man faces multiple charges of child abuse involving his grandchildren. Cody Wayne Ainsworth was arrested last week and is charged with three counts of injury to a child.

The investigation into Ainsworth began following a 911 call concerning potential child abuse in Waco. Officers arrived at a residence on First Street, where they spoke to Ainsworth’s stepdaughter, the mother of the children.

She reported ongoing arguments with Ainsworth related to his treatment of the kids. The mother described an incident where Ainsworth forcibly punished her 7-year-old son for using body wash while bathing.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Ainsworth allegedly forced the child to place his hand on the kitchen table and beat it repeatedly. The mother noted this type of punishment was common for Ainsworth.

Other allegations surfaced, including claims that Ainsworth used profanity and threatened the children with physical violence. Ainsworth’s wife provided investigators with recordings in which he threatened the boys.

She expressed her concerns in recorded conversations, calling Ainsworth’s treatment of the children abusive. During the investigation, a school nurse confirmed a report from one of the boys claiming to have injured his back due to Ainsworth tackling him.

One of the children had multiple documented injuries reported weekly by a teacher, including injuries to his stomach and elbows. Forensic interviews revealed a 4-year-old expressing fear of Ainsworth, who reportedly had whipped him with a belt.

Ainsworth is being held in McLennan County Jail on a bond set at $150,000. Records indicate he subsequently bonded out, though details about his court appearance remain unclear.

Texas man threatens mass shooting during holiday calls to police

San Antonio, TX A 31-year-old man made terroristic threats against a popular tourist location and an NBA game on Thanksgiving. Christopher Stowe allegedly called the San Antonio Police Department’s Tip411 line multiple times throughout the day.

Between 1 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., Stowe left a series of messages outlining his intentions. In one communication, he stated, “I’m done and I’m going to do a mass shooting” and expressed a desire to kill people.

Stowe mentioned his body count would be “hopefully over 100” and declared himself the “next mass shooter.” The messages were deemed threatening and sparked concern for public safety.

Police traced the messages to Stowe’s phone. He was arrested Saturday and later posted a $50,000 bond.

His next court hearing is scheduled for February 25.

Texas woman arrested for threatening judge in truancy hearing

Waco, TX A 19-year-old woman was arrested after she allegedly threatened to shoot a judge during a truancy hearing. Daisy Hernandez faces a charge of making a terroristic threat against a public servant.

The incident occurred on Thursday during a hearing in Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Court. Judge LucyAnn Sanchez-Miramontez was addressing issues of school attendance when Hernandez’s family member disrupted the proceedings.

Hernandez reportedly became upset when the judge threatened to jail her mother for six days for ignoring a court order. After a tense exchange, Sanchez-Miramontez ordered the family to be removed from the courtroom.

As she was being escorted out, Hernandez allegedly stated, “I’m gonna shoot this b–.” The judge questioned whether she heard the threat correctly.

Witnesses later provided statements about the event. The affidavit noted that when asked why she made the threat, Hernandez said she was angry.

On Friday, Sanchez-Miramontez stated that Hernandez’s mother returned to court and provided documentation showing that the children have enrolled in school. The defendant was initially jailed with a $5,000 bond, but the charges do not currently appear on the McLennan County criminal court docket.

Texas mother arrested after 1-year-old dies from car seat strap strangulation

Weslaco, TX

A 26-year-old mother, Ashley Jasmin Rivera, has been arrested following the death of her 1-year-old child. The incident occurred on Halloween night when deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive child in a vehicle.

On October 31, shortly before 9 p.m., deputies arrived at the 8100 block of North FM 88. They found the child not breathing, and paramedics transported the infant to a hospital where the child was pronounced dead.

According to a press release from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, the child’s car seat was found tipped forward with the strap around the child’s neck. Rivera reportedly informed investigators that she had left the child in the car while she attended to her other three children.

A witness discovered the child unresponsive after approximately 20 to 30 minutes. An autopsy later confirmed the death resulted from strangulation.

Details regarding the whereabouts of Rivera and her other children during that time have not been disclosed. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

Rivera was taken into custody and is being held in the Hidalgo County Jail on a $750,000 bond.

Texas dad sentenced for infant son’s starvation death

Waco, TX District Judge Susan N. Kelly sentenced Charles Devin Harris to 40 years in prison for the death of his 3-month-old son, Jacob Jeremiah Amon Harris. Harris pleaded guilty to charges of injury to a child, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of methamphetamine.

The sentence requires Harris to serve a minimum of 20 years before becoming eligible for parole. Kelly’s ruling follows a plea agreement in which prosecutors dropped a murder charge against Harris.

Harris’ sentence is similar to the 40-year sentence handed down to the victim’s mother, Skylynn Tuerk. The case centered around an incident on November 29 at the New Road Inn motel in Waco, where the infant was found deceased due to severe neglect.

A welfare check led police to the motel where they discovered Jacob’s lifeless body exhibiting signs of prolonged starvation. A 3-year-old sibling was also found in the motel room, which authorities described as filthy and hazardous.

The investigation into the family’s living conditions was initiated after a report to Child Protective Services raised concerns about Jacob’s weight gain since birth. Witnesses indicated that Tuerk was indifferent to the child’s needs, while Harris reportedly spent time playing video games when assistance was sought.

Upon their arrival at the motel, officers noted a lack of adequate food, with no baby formula available for Jacob. The unsafe environment included accessible knives and harmful conditions posing serious risks to the children.