A Houston man who slit his own throat after viciously stabbing his common-law wife to death in front of her children in 2018 was sentenced to 60 years in prison this week, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Tuesday.
“This was a vicious and violent attack, and it shows exactly how quickly domestic violence can escalate to homicide,” Ogg said. “She was murdered by the person who she was supposed to have been able to trust the most.”
Xavier Alejandro Martinez, 28, was convicted by a jury of murder after a week-long trial and sentenced by a judge Monday to 60 years in prison. He must serve half of that sentence before he can be considered for parole because his crime involved a deadly weapon.
Martinez was convicted of killing Josselin Yamileth, 32, at their apartment in the 4000 block of Galveston Road on May 23, 2018.
Martinez’s sister called police after he sent text messages to her about harming himself.
The sister met police at the apartment and heard children crying inside. She forced her way in and found Martinez and Yamileth on the floor.
Martinez had a self-inflicted cut to his throat, and was taken to the hospital. Police found a note indicating that he was trying to kill himself.
Yamileth was pronounced dead at the scene.
“We heard from a detective who had been to at least a hundred homicide scenes and said this scene was the most brutal one he had ever seen,” said Assistant District Attorney Robert Buss, who prosecuted the case. “He used nearly every knife in that kitchen and almost decapitated her. It was absolutely horrific.”
