The capital murder trial of Ruben Torres, a Harlingen man accused of killing his girlfriend in 2007, came to a halt Wednesday after Torres and his attorney agreed to accept a plea deal that had been offered before the start of trial.
After one day of testimony, Torres and attorney Lilia Gonzales Pena approached the judge and said they would accept the no-contest plea offered by Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz.
Although Estrada’s body has yet to be found, authorities believe they had enough evidence to prove Torres killed his girlfriend 10 years ago.
Authorities said Estrada was last seen June 16, 2007, when she left her Harlingen residence with Torres.
Lawmen believe Torres killed Estrada because she was a witness in another case — a drive-by shooting — and that she could testify against him.
Judge Janet Leal of the 103rd state District Court handed down a sentence of 18 years with no right to appeal to Torres, though her options ranged from 5 to 99 years or a life sentence and up to a $10,000 fine.
Torres also will receive credit for time served, which came to 503 days.
Leal addressed Torres as she delivered his sentence.
“The reason I’m accepting this agreement is because of what I’ve heard as far as the evidence goes,” Leal said. “And rather than taking the chance that you get away with killing this 13-year old little girl, I would rather accept the 18 years and know that you are at least going to have some punishment for this and that you’re not going to be able to get away with it completely. That’s me letting you know how I feel about this.”
Torres attempted to thank Leal, but she interrupted him.
“Don’t thank me, because the only reason I’m doing this is not for you, it’s justice for her,” Leal said.
Laura Estrada, Abigail’s aunt, made an impact statement after the sentencing. Holding a framed photo of Abigail with tears in her eyes and a voice filled with emotion, she addressed Torres and said, “I want you to realize what you’ve done to our family. I want you to confess so we can find her and where her remains are, so we can let her rest in peace.”
The Estrada family remained in the courtroom after it was cleared, sitting quietly as it absorbed the news that its ordeal had finally reached some kind of conclusion.
But for Abraham Estrada, Abigail’s father, and other members of her family, their collective response was one of dissatisfaction.
“I don’t think the punishment he was given was enough,” Abraham Estrada said. “Nothing’s going to bring her back, but I don’t think it was enough. He should have been given life because he took a life. A life for a life.”
Laura Estrada said, “If he wants forgiveness, he’ll tell us (where her body is.) We pray that he does.”
Torres’ attorney said he will be eligible for parole at some point.
“He’ll be eligible for parole,” the attorney said. “He’s 26, so hopefully, maybe, in 10 years he’ll get released, if everything goes right.”
Saenz said he had mixed feelings about the outcome of the trial.
“It’s a very challenging case when you don’t have a body, when you don’t have DNA, when you don’t have anything. I feel bad and good. I feel bad about the incarceration period, that’s not what we would have preferred, but I feel good in the sense that we were able to talk to the jury,” Saenz said. “All 12 spoke to us at length, and it was their position we had not proven the case. When I heard that, it confirmed we’d made the right decision in making that offer.”
But at least one juror had different feelings. Preferring not to give his name, he said, “I don’t know what would have been fair, but I think he got a break.”
