Texas Double Murder Case Ends with Controversial Plea Deal and 50-Year Sentence
A Texas man convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend and her friend in a 2023 shooting will spend decades behind bars, but could potentially be released on parole after serving just 25 years of his sentence. The outcome has left the victims' families reeling with anger and disappointment.
Reduced Charges and Unexpected Plea Agreement
Lazerith Carrillo, now 22 years old, accepted a plea deal in Bexar County for the shooting deaths of Alyssa Perez, 26, and Edward Acosta Jimenez, 32. Originally facing a capital murder charge that carried the possibility of life without parole or even the death penalty, Carrillo saw his charges reduced to two counts of murder as part of the agreement.
On March 30, a judge sentenced Carrillo to two concurrent 50-year prison terms, according to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office. This sentencing structure means Carrillo could become eligible for parole consideration after serving just 25 years of his sentence.
Families Blindsided by Sudden Resolution
The plea deal came as a shock to the victims' families, who had been preparing for a trial they believed would provide closure after three years of waiting. Aimee Perez, mother of Alyssa Perez, and Jessica Acosta, sister of Edward Acosta Jimenez, told local news station KSAT they had expected the case to proceed to trial.
"We waited three years for this," Perez said, expressing the family's frustration with the sudden resolution.
The families claim prosecutors contacted them just days before the plea was finalized, leaving them unprepared for the outcome. According to their accounts, the Bexar County District Attorney's Office reached out unexpectedly on a Friday, with the plea agreement scheduled for the following Monday.
Tragic Details of the 2023 Killings
The case stems from a tragic incident on January 27, 2023, when Perez and Jimenez were found shot to death just before 2 a.m. In a heartbreaking twist, it was Jimenez's mother who discovered their bodies in a car parked outside her home on Trudell Street after attempting to wake her son for work.
Security video from a neighbor's residence showed the shooting occurred at 12:50 a.m., with a man seen walking away from the vehicle after shots were fired.
Just two hours after the discovery, police arrested Carrillo following a reported carjacking attempt about a mile away from the murder scene. At the time of his arrest, Carrillo was 18 years old and in possession of a gun matching the caliber of shell casings found at the crime scene.
Evidence Linking Carrillo to the Crimes
Investigators uncovered substantial evidence connecting Carrillo to the murders:
- Carrillo was found with Perez's cellphone, which contained her ID, social security card, and debit card in its case
- His fingerprint was discovered on a plastic cup inside the victims' vehicle
- Forensic evidence including DNA and additional fingerprints recovered from the car tied Carrillo to the killings
During police interviews, Carrillo admitted knowing the victims but denied involvement in their deaths. Perez's family told investigators she had recently ended her relationship with Carrillo and reported that he had shot at her car earlier in the week when she dropped him off.
Courtroom Confrontation and Family Outrage
Emotions ran high during Carrillo's sentencing as family members confronted the man who killed their loved ones. "You viciously took two lives – of people who trusted you – who actually cared about you," Aimee Perez declared in court, pointing directly at Carrillo.
Another relative sobbed as she addressed Carrillo: "Her life wasn't over, it wasn't supposed to be over. And you took that from me. Why did you do that? You broke us."
Prosecutors Defend the Outcome
District Attorney Joe Gonzales praised the prosecution team and law enforcement in a statement following the sentencing. "I want to applaud the incredible efforts of the prosecution team and law enforcement involved in the case," Gonzales said. "Because of their relentless pursuit of the truth, we were able to ensure that the individual responsible for this tragic crime faced the consequences of their actions."
A spokesperson for the district attorney's office told KSAT that prosecutors had communicated with families about the possibility of a plea deal, contacting them on March 18 to discuss the potential agreement and following up on March 20 to inform them the offer had been finalized.
"We understand that this was not the end result the families were seeking," the spokesperson acknowledged. "However, every detail of the case was thoroughly considered, including the family's desired result. Ultimately, we secured a sentence that guarantees the defendant has acknowledged his culpability and is being held accountable for his actions."
Families Feel Betrayed by Justice System
The victims' families expressed feeling betrayed by prosecutors they say had previously described the case as a "slam dunk."
"They lied to us, every single day for those three years," Acosta claimed. "We wanted our day in court. We wanted justice, which was not given to us."
Acosta further alleged that prosecutors ignored the families in court, refusing to speak with them until after sentencing was complete. "Then, they tried to come and give us the fake smiles and the fake hugs, but this wasn't justice. In my opinion, they're all cowards," she stated.
Looking Forward: Families Vow to Fight Parole
Despite their disappointment with the sentencing outcome, both families have vowed to ensure Carrillo serves as much of his sentence as possible.
"We will be there every single time to protest his release, so that he serves every single day of those 50 years," Acosta declared.
Perez added, "We're going to be her voice. We're all who she has right now. We're going to stand up for her. We're going to be heard – for her."
The case highlights ongoing tensions between victims' families seeking maximum punishment and prosecutors navigating plea agreements that guarantee convictions while potentially reducing sentences.
