Texas Mother Sentenced to Life for Killing 7-Month-Old Daughter Out of Anger Toward Baby’s Father
MATHIS, TEXAS — A 22-year-old Texas mother will spend the rest of her life in prison after admitting she brutally killed her 7-month-old daughter, telling police she was angry at the baby’s father when she lashed out.
Olivia Munoz, of Mathis, pleaded guilty last week to murder of a person under 10 years of age and injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury, according to the San Patricio County District Attorney’s Office.
Her daughter, Hazel Munoz, died on December 19, 2023, after months of alleged abuse that left the infant with broken ribs, fractured arms, and skull injuries, authorities said.
Morning of Horror in Small Texas Town
At around 6:30 a.m., police in Mathis — about 35 miles northwest of Corpus Christi — responded to Munoz’s home on South Marigold Street after receiving a 911 call about an unresponsive baby.
When officers arrived, they found baby Hazel not breathing. Emergency crews performed CPR and rushed the child to ER 24/7 Northwest Hospital in Corpus Christi. But despite efforts to revive her, Hazel was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
According to Mathis Police Chief Guillermo “Willie” Figueroa, the alarm was first raised when Munoz told her mother the baby wasn’t breathing. Hazel’s grandmother then had another family member call 911.
Confession Reveals Months of Abuse
Hospital staff alerted police after discovering extensive injuries inconsistent with Munoz’s story. When questioned, Munoz admitted to repeatedly injuring her daughter during three separate incidents — none of which were ever reported or treated.
“She admitted she had a lot of anger towards the 7-month-old baby due to problems she had with the baby’s father,” Chief Figueroa told KRIS 6 News. “She told officers that her three children shared the same biological father.”
At the time, Munoz was also pregnant and caring for a 1-year-old daughter, who showed no signs of physical harm.
An autopsy later confirmed Hazel’s death was a homicide, citing multiple fractures and blunt force trauma.
From Arrest to Life Sentence
Munoz was first arrested on two counts of child injury in December 2023, but after the autopsy results in January 2024, her charges were upgraded to capital murder. The Texas Rangers joined the investigation, which eventually led to a three-count indictment in March.
Court documents revealed Munoz underwent a psychiatric evaluation and briefly pursued an insanity defense, but later accepted a plea deal in October 2025.
Under that agreement, prosecutors dropped one of the murder charges and reduced the capital charge to a lesser murder count. Munoz pleaded guilty to two charges, both carrying life sentences.
Judge Calls the Case ‘Heartbreaking Beyond Words’
During the plea hearing, prosecutors described the baby’s suffering as “prolonged and inexcusable.” Investigators said Hazel endured weeks of abuse before her death — and that Munoz’s motive stemmed purely from spite toward the child’s father.
“It’s one of the most heartbreaking cases we’ve ever seen,” a San Patricio County official said. “A defenseless baby was killed because of adult anger.”
Munoz’s formal sentencing hearing is expected to take place later this year. She will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole for decades.
What do you think drives parents to such extremes — anger, stress, or something deeper? Join the discussion and read more tragic cases like this at ChicagoMusicGuide.com.