Texas Woman Sentenced to Life After Killing 7-Month-Old Daughter in Rage Fueled by Anger Toward Child’s Father
TEXAS — A young Texas mother will spend the rest of her life in prison after admitting she fatally abused her 7-month-old daughter, telling investigators she acted out of anger toward the baby’s father rather than anything the child had done.
Olivia Munoz, 22, was sentenced to two life terms in prison after pleading guilty to murder of a child under 10 and injury to a child causing serious bodily harm in the death of her infant daughter, Hazel Munoz, court officials in San Patricio County confirmed.
The sentence was pre-arranged under a plea agreement and formally carried out this week as Munoz was transferred into the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Infant Found Unresponsive Inside Mathis Home
The fatal incident occurred on December 19, 2023, inside a home on South Marigold Street in Mathis, a small town northwest of Corpus Christi.
Police were dispatched around 6:30 a.m. after Hazel was found unresponsive and not breathing. Emergency responders attempted CPR before rushing the child to a hospital in the Calallen area of Corpus Christi, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
According to authorities, Munoz initially told family members that she woke up and found her baby not breathing, prompting a 911 call.
Hospital Alerts Police to Severe Injuries
After Hazel’s death, hospital staff contacted police due to numerous injuries inconsistent with an accident.
Investigators questioned Munoz, who admitted to harming her daughter during three separate incidents and never seeking medical care afterward.
Police said Munoz was pregnant at the time and had another young daughter, who showed no signs of abuse.
Autopsy Reveals Ongoing Abuse
A medical examiner later determined Hazel’s death was a homicide, uncovering extensive injuries that pointed to repeated abuse over time.
The infant suffered:
- Multiple fractures to her arms
- Broken ribs
- A fractured skull
Following the autopsy results in January 2024, prosecutors upgraded the case from child injury to murder.
Mother Admits Motive Was Anger at Father
According to Mathis Police Chief Guillermo “Willie” Figueroa, Munoz openly admitted why she harmed her child.
“She admitted she had a lot of anger toward the 7-month-old baby due to problems she had with the baby’s father,” Figueroa said.
Police confirmed all three of Munoz’s children share the same biological father.
Texas Rangers Take Over Investigation
Due to the severity of the case, the Texas Rangers assumed control of the investigation.
In March 2024, Munoz was indicted on:
- Two counts of capital murder
- One count of first-degree injury to a child
Court records show a psychiatric evaluation and potential insanity defense were explored before prosecutors and defense attorneys reached a plea agreement in October.
Plea Deal Leads to Life Sentence
On October 24, Munoz pleaded guilty after prosecutors:
- Dropped one murder charge
- Reduced capital murder to a lesser murder offense
In return, Munoz accepted two mandatory life sentences, ensuring she will never be eligible for release.
A Child Who Never Had a Chance
Hazel Munoz was only 7 months old when her life ended after enduring repeated abuse inside her own home.
Authorities described the case as a tragic example of misdirected rage and emphasized that infants are entirely dependent on caregivers for safety and survival.
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