Texas Man Stabbed Girlfriend 55 Times and Strangled Her Teen Daughter to Death Before Going Partying, Police Say
LAREDO, TEXAS — A Texas man will spend the rest of his life in prison after committing one of the most gruesome double murders in Laredo history — stabbing his girlfriend 55 times and choking her teenage daughter to death before leaving to party like nothing happened.
According to the Webb County District Attorney’s Office, Rene Mendez, 40, was convicted Friday of two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Sylvia Ramos, 40, and her daughter Brianna Ramos, 19. A judge sentenced Mendez to life in prison without parole.
Prosecutors said the crime occurred on March 6, 2023, at an apartment located on Lomas Del Sur Boulevard in Laredo, where officers discovered both victims dead after a family member frantically flagged down a police officer.
Mother and Daughter Brutally Killed in Their Home
Investigators determined Mendez first strangled 19-year-old Brianna in her bedroom before leaving the apartment. Hours later, when Sylvia Ramos returned home, Mendez attacked her with a pocket knife, stabbing her 55 times, mostly in the neck.
Assistant District Attorney Kassandra de Hoyos described the crime as “unrelenting and personal,” saying Mendez continued stabbing long after the victim fell to the ground.
“He said he didn’t mean to do it, but he didn’t stop,” de Hoyos told jurors. “Three minutes later, he left the apartment, leaving Sylvia on the floor in her own blood while her daughter lay dead in her bedroom.”
Killer Went Partying After the Murders
After killing both victims, Mendez stole Sylvia’s bank card, withdrew $500, and bought cocaine before joining a friend for a night of drinking and drug use. The friend later testified that Mendez appeared “calm and normal,” showing no signs of remorse.
When police found him later that day at a Motel 6, Mendez was suffering from a drug overdose after ingesting 130 pills, cocaine, and alcohol in what authorities described as a failed suicide attempt.
He was hospitalized, survived, and was arrested upon release.
Prosecutors Reject Addiction Excuse
During closing arguments, prosecutors rejected claims that addiction caused the murders, saying Mendez’s actions were deliberate.
“Addiction didn’t cause him to suffocate Brianna. Addiction didn’t cause him to stab Sylvia 55 times,” de Hoyos said. “That was his choice — his evil decision.”
The Webb County jury returned a swift guilty verdict, ensuring Mendez will never walk free again.
The Laredo community continues to mourn the loss of Sylvia and Brianna Ramos, described by relatives as “loving, kind, and inseparable.” The conviction, prosecutors said, delivers long-awaited justice for both victims.
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