Jose Ignacio Monterrubio
Homicide
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Cameron County, Texas, USA
- Date of birth
- August 26, 1976
- Age at first offence
- 17
- Characteristics
- juvenile (17), rape, kidnapping
- Victim profile
- Carla Villarreal, 16
- Method of murder
- Strangulation
- Date(s) of murder
- September 5, 1993
- Years active
- 1993
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Life imprisonment
Sentenced to death on November 9, 1994; commuted to life in prison in 2005
Background
Jose Ignacio Monterrubio was 17 years old when he and his older cousin Sixto Monterrubio raped, beat, stabbed, and then strangled a female classmate from Brownsville Rivera High School in September 1993.
The offence
Monterrubio and Sixto Monterrubio buried the body of 16-year-old Carla Villarreal in a shallow grave near the airport. The body was found one month later.
Investigation
After the body was found one month later, federal court records later reflected that Monterrubio had lost a death sentence appeal in February 2004.
Trial
Under state law, Jose Ignacio Monterrubio was tried as an adult and received a death sentence in October 1994.
The first Cameron County District Attorney John Blaylock said his office would review the Supreme Courts ruling to see how it would apply to Monterrubio’s case:
"Well verify if the ruling is retroactive or proactive," Blaylock said. "Then well be able to make a comment."
Sentencing
Monterrubio was sentenced to death on November 9, 1994.
Sixto Monterrubio was sentenced to life in prison.
Appeals
Federal court records reflected that Jose Ignacio Monterrubio had lost a death sentence appeal in February 2004.
Judge Roberto Garza with the 138th state District Court denied a request for forensic DNA testing two weeks before the referenced press time.
Outcome
Jose Ignacio Monterrubio was commuted to life in prison in 2005. At press time Tuesday, Monterrubio remained on the Texas Department of Criminal Justices official list of 445 death row inmates.
Other details
- Victim: Carla Villarreal, 16 years old, female classmate from Brownsville Rivera High School.
- Location detail: a shallow grave near the airport.
- Names of relatives and co-defendant: Sixto Monterrubio (older cousin).
- Officials mentioned: Cameron County District Attorney John Blaylock; Judge Roberto Garza (138th state District Court).
- Institutions mentioned: Texas Department of Criminal Justices; Supreme Courts.
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