Texas Double Murderer Sentenced to 50 Years, Families Decry Parole Possibility
A Texas man convicted of a brutal 2023 double murder has been ordered to spend five decades behind bars, but the victims' families are expressing profound outrage over the sentence, which could see him eligible for parole in just 25 years.
Plea Deal Reduces Charges in 2023 Shooting Deaths
Lazerith Carrillo, now 22, accepted a plea agreement in Bexar County for the shooting deaths of Alyssa Perez, 26, and her friend Edward Acosta Jimenez, 32. Carrillo had initially faced a capital murder charge, which carried the possibility of life imprisonment without parole or even the death penalty. However, as part of the plea arrangement, that charge was reduced to two counts of murder.
On March 30, a judge sentenced Carrillo to two concurrent 50-year prison terms, according to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office. This concurrent sentencing structure means Carrillo could become eligible for parole after serving just 25 years, a prospect that has left the families of the victims stunned and furious.
Families Blindsided by Sudden Plea Agreement
The families of Alyssa Perez and Edward Acosta Jimenez told local news outlet KSAT they had expected the case to proceed to trial and were completely blindsided by the sudden plea deal. "We waited three years for this," said Perez's mother, Aimee Perez, expressing her devastation.
Jimenez's sister, Jessica Acosta, claimed prosecutors contacted the families just days before the plea was finalized, leaving them unprepared. "Everything was rushed," Acosta said. "We were supposed to start a trial the following week. Why couldn't we wait?"
The families allege that prosecutors had previously described the case as a "slam dunk" and now feel betrayed by the outcome. "They lied to us, every single day for those three years," Acosta asserted. "We wanted our day in court. We wanted justice, which was not given to us."
The Tragic 2023 Killings and Investigation
The horrific incident occurred in the early hours of 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 footage from a neighbor's residence showed the shooting occurred at 12:50 a.m., with a man seen walking away from the vehicle after gunshots were fired.
Just two hours after the discovery, police arrested Carrillo following a reported carjacking attempt approximately one mile from the murder scene. At the time of his arrest, Carrillo was 18 years old and in possession of a firearm matching the caliber of shell casings found at the crime scene.
Investigators also recovered Perez's cellphone with Carrillo, containing her identification, social security card, and debit card. Carrillo's fingerprint was discovered on a plastic cup inside the victims' vehicle, and forensic evidence including DNA further tied him to the killings.
During police interviews, Carrillo admitted knowing the victims but denied involvement in their deaths. Perez's family informed investigators that 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 Emotional Fallout
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, directly addressing Carrillo.
Another relative sobbed as she spoke about the victims: "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."
The families expressed further frustration with how prosecutors handled their communication, claiming that district attorney staff avoided eye contact and conversation until after sentencing was complete. "This wasn't justice," Acosta stated. "In my opinion, they're all cowards."
Prosecutors Defend Outcome Despite Family Criticism
District Attorney Joe Gonzales praised the prosecution team's efforts in a statement, saying: "I want to applaud the incredible efforts of the prosecution team and law enforcement involved in the case. 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 potential plea agreement, contacting them on March 18 to discuss possibilities and following up on March 20 to inform them the offer had been finalized.
The spokesperson acknowledged the families' dissatisfaction but emphasized that "every detail of the case was thoroughly considered, including the family's desired result" and that the sentence "guarantees the defendant has acknowledged his culpability and is being held accountable for his actions."
Families Vow to Fight Future Parole Attempts
Despite their devastation, 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 sentencing marks a painful new chapter for families who have endured three years of waiting, only to face what they perceive as an inadequate resolution to their pursuit of justice for their murdered loved ones.
