Jaime Cole

Background

Jaime Piero Cole was a Hispanic male who was 41 when received. He was recorded as male, with brown hair, brown eyes, a height of 5'10" and a weight of 222. His education level was recorded as the highest grade completed: 12. His date of offense was 02/04/2010, when he was 39. His native county was Quito and his native state was Ecuador. His prior occupation was laborer, and his prior prison record was none. He was recorded as the father of the victim.

The case involved the killing of his estranged wife and her daughter. The victims were Melissa Dawn Cole, 31, and her daughter, Alecia Desire Castillo, 15. A 2-year-old son was involved in the events at the time of the shooting, and a 10-year-old son was also involved. A 12-year-old testified in the death penalty trial, and a 9-year-old cousin was also described as being present. Another child described as 11-year-old Chloe Mahalec later testified.

Joe Castillo said he hoped the death sentence would raise awareness about domestic violence. Joe Castillo said: "Domestic violence is everywhere, for men and women." He also said: "And there are people out there who can help them." Joe Castillo said: "I hope people realize how quickly things can escalate, how quickly things can get out of hand," and he added: "By reading their story, I hope people realize how quickly things can escalate, how quickly things can get out of hand,".

The offence

During the night in Houston, Jaime Cole was returning his sons to the residence of the victim. A verbal argument ensued and Cole shot the victim multiple times in the torso with a 22 caliber pistol. The second victim tried to intervene in the argument and was also shot. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Cole’s plan, other than placating the toddler, was described as a murder-suicide ending with his death in a hail of police gunfire, according to his videotaped statement played for jurors during the second day of the death penalty trial.

During his statement, he said: "I wanted to be shot by y'all. I didn't even have any bullets,".

He also said: "I wish I had the guts to do it myself." Cole told investigators he left the scene, rented a motel room and planned to wait for police. In the same account, he said he went to the car wash where he was the general manager and took about $1,300 from the safe. Cole told an investigator: "You're right about one thing," and he said: "It was not planned." Cole bought the murder weapon, a .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol, at a sporting goods store the day before the shooting.

Jurors saw Cole pantomime stepping over the body to chase his stepdaughter down the hall. The teenager died after being shot once in the chest in her bedroom.

In the hours before the shooting, Cole told police he and his wife were going through a divorce, and he was upset, angry and frustrated. Cole said he arrived at her apartment and the two argued in the bedroom. Cole said: "I began to beg and whimper,". Cole said he began to cry because he did not want the divorce.

The couple went outside, where they continued to argue. Melissa Cole stood on the threshold. Cole said: "I don't know why I shot her," and he demonstrated opening fire on his wife. Cole told police he and his wife were going through a divorce, and he was upset, angry and frustrated.

After the shooting, Cole hurried from the chaos while taking a 2-year-old son into his pickup and taking off. The 2-year-old was described as shouting "Daddy!" according to several witnesses. Cole said: "If it wasn't for him, I'd be dead already,". After doubling over and whimpering, he said: "Please kill me now." He also said: "They're not going to make a 10-year-old testify against his dad,".

A dinner of hamburgers took place before the shooting. Cole had two beers. A 12-year-old testified that Cole said: "If me or your mother dies, you would go live with your aunt Karina," and the boy said, "OK." The aunt, Cole’s sister, lived in Ecuador, and the boy later lived with his maternal grandparents.

A 9-year-old described as Chloe Mahalec hid in the kitchen until the shooting stopped. Chloe Mahalec testified that she discovered her 15-year-old cousin, Alecia Desire Castillo, and her aunt, Melissa Dawn Cole, were dead. Chloe testified that at one point the uncle aimed the gun at her, and that her mother was told it was a joke because it went click-click instead of boom-boom. Brooke Phillips testified earlier in the day, saying: "He was just joking when he pointed the gun at me because it went click-click instead of boom-boom,'" .

Chloe testified that she spoke to Assistant Harris County District Attorney Sunni Mitchell in whispered starts. Chloe said: "I was scared," and she said: "Scared I could get hurt." Chloe testified: "He was shooting her," and she said: "She was lying down, she fell." Chloe said: "I was scared,".

It was unclear from testimony when Cole aimed the gun at Chloe, and Chloe remembered only that another cousin, 8-year-old Piero Cole, was shaking his sister shouting, "Wake up!".

Investigation

On 02/04/2010, investigators said the incident started at an apartment on Dixie Farm and Gulfstream in southeast Houston around 7:30 p.m. Police believed Cole came to the apartment to drop off his sons, aged 10 and 2.

Investigators said that when Cole and his estranged wife, Melissa Dawn Cole, got into an argument, the fight turned violent. Police said that when Melissa Cole’s 15-year-old daughter tried to intervene, Jaime Cole pulled out a gun and opened fire. Police said both Melissa Cole and her daughter, Alecia Desire Castillo, were hit multiple times. HPD’s H.A. Chavez said: "When he got here with the two boys, he and the wife got into an argument, and the argument escalated. The 15-year-old tried to intervene. The adult female got shot, then the juvenile got shot,".

Investigators said Cole left his 10-year-old son there and took off with the toddler. An Amber Alert was issued, and the pair was spotted at a Wal-Mart in Wharton County. Investigators said Cole was trying to buy ammunition. A DPS trooper took him into custody.

The murder weapon, which Cole bought the day before, was found in Cole’s truck. Neighbors saw him fleeing the scene in the truck moments after the shots were fired.

Arrest

Jaime Cole was arrested hours after the Feb. 4, 2010, shooting. He was taken into custody by a DPS trooper after he was spotted at a Wal-Mart in Wharton County while an Amber Alert was issued. Cole was recorded as 39-year-old at the time.

Police said he kidnapped his son and fatally shot his wife and a teen. Cole’s sons were unharmed.

Trial

The capital murder trial was held in state District Judge Belinda Hill's court and took two weeks. The death penalty trial was expected to take two weeks.

Cole was shown to have given two confessions. Jurors heard Cole’s videotaped account, including his statements about wanting to be shot by police and that he did not want to divorce, plus comments about evidence and his children.

During the second day of the death penalty trial, his videotaped statement was played for jurors. In that statement, he said: "I wanted to be shot by y'all. I didn't even have any bullets," and "I wish I had the guts to do it myself." He also said: "You're right about one thing," and "It was not planned." Cole cried several times during the statement and lamented that his children saw the killings.

Cole told investigators they had enough evidence to convict him of killing 15-year-old Alecia Desire Castillo and Melissa Dawn Cole, 31.

The defense attorneys Bob Loper and Jerald Graber did not cross-examine Chloe Mahalec. Defense attorneys also declined to comment on the case.

During trial testimony, Chloe Mahalec described being between a wall and a washing machine in the kitchen while listening to shouts, screams and gunshots. She described arriving at the aftermath and seeing her 15-year-old cousin and her aunt were dead. Chloe described peeking around corners after the shots stopped. Chloe described another child and shouting.

A 2-year-old son was described as part of the situation when Cole shot his wife and her daughter and then took off. A 12-year-old testified about the hours before the shooting, including the hamburgers and the statement about living with his aunt Karina. The aunt lived in Ecuador.

Joe Castillo said: "Jaime was a monster," and he said: "I just wish I had known." Joe Castillo praised the jury's decision, as described.

Sentencing

Cole was sentenced on Thursday to die for killing his estranged wife and her daughter in a shooting spree last year. Cole was recorded as 41 and that sentencing occurred on November 23, 2011. The trial was described as a death penalty trial.

Outcome

Cole was convicted in a capital murder trial and was sentenced to death. The victims Melissa Dawn Cole and Alecia Desire Castillo were pronounced dead at the scene.

Aftermath

Joe Castillo said he was on a mission after sentencing and hoped the death sentence would raise awareness. He said: "Domestic violence is everywhere, for men and women," and "And there are people out there who can help them." He said: "By reading their story, I hope people realize how quickly things can escalate, how quickly things can get out of hand,".

Other details

• Cole’s TDCJ number was 999569.
• The case included co-defendants described as none.
• The case record included a father of victim hope statement by Joe Castillo.
• An Amber Alert was issued.
• Cole was described as having planned to wait for police after leaving the scene and renting a motel room.
• Cole was described as having taken about $1,300 from the safe at the car wash where he was the general manager.
• It was described that Cole bought the murder weapon at a sporting goods store the day before the shooting.
• Neighbors saw Cole fleeing the scene in the truck moments after the shots were fired.
• Cole’s sons were described as unharmed.