TX Couple Betrayed and Murdered 65 Year Old Man in Baytown

A woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to robbing and killing a 65-year-old Texas man in a wheelchair. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced this decision on Monday, emphasizing the gravity of such a heinous act.

THE MURDER OF JOHN HENRY FERNANDEZ

Alicia Keator, 40, and her boyfriend, Marcus Donnell Gilbert, admitted to their involvement in the murder of John Henry Fernandez, a kind and elderly man living in an apartment complex.

DA Kim Ogg expressed deep concern for the vulnerability of elderly and disabled individuals, stating, "This couple took advantage of this man's kindness and deserves to spend decades in prison."

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF KINDNESS

Fernandez, known for his grandfatherly demeanor, relied on assistance for daily care. Keator agreed to help him in exchange for housing, moving in over a month before the murder. Authorities revealed that her boyfriend regularly visited. Together, they meticulously planned and executed Fernandez's murder on Christmas Day in 2017, shocking the community.

NEIGHBORS BECOME CONCERNED

Disturbingly, concerned neighbors raised the alarm when they hadn't heard from Fernandez for days. Maintenance workers discovered his lifeless body, bound and gagged, locked inside his bedroom. Keator and Gilbert were subsequently arrested and charged with capital murder for suffocating Fernandez and stealing his possessions.

Keator's assistance in the case led to a reduced sentence. She received 25 years, while Gilbert, who admitted to the murder, got a 60-year sentence this year. Both must serve half of their sentences before parole eligibility.