Crime

Salazar Found Guilty in Grape Creek Murder Trial

By Joe Hyde, Aug 20, 2014
 

Matthew Salazar was found guilty of murder in Judge Gossett’s 391st District Court in San Angelo at 3:45 p.m. The jury did not find that Salazar performed a burglary in addition to the murder.

The jury deliberated since approximately 10:30 a.m. this morning. They returned the verdict after a brief pause for lunch.

Judge Gossett announced that the court would proceed this afternoon and move into the punishment phase at approximately 4 p.m.

The state and the defense will likely call witnesses before making their final arguments. Murder is a first-degree felony, punishable by 5-99 years in prison. There is also an optional $10,000 fine.

Read more details on the final arguments during the trial here.

The Grape Creek Murder Trial, as it unfolded in the Tom Green County Courthouse in August 2014:

 

 

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I disagree Mark Parkin. All three of these grown ups acted irresponsively. He was just the most radical of the bunch, a minimum sentence should be suffice. His acknowledgement of the pain he inflicted on his children is a life sentence of regret, but kids are resilient and they will get through it also. I think for someone to comment that he should get the max has never had to know the feeling of betrayal, and I'm happy for that person, because it is truly a painful and horrible experience.
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jdgt, Wed, 08/20/2014 - 17:51
I hope he does go away for a long time. He deserves a lengthy sentence of sitting around, thinking about the actions of that day. Who's to say that he won't turn a gun on one of those kids should they ever do him wrong? Don't say it would never happen - no one ever thought he'd kill his wife, either.
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JD there is no argument this guy was a ticking time bomb, but I don't see him as a future menace to society. Give him 10 years behind bars and parole him out. His inner demons won't ever give him peace, he will forever be imprisoned.
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Favian, why is it all about Matt's kids? What about Heather's 2 little boys? Their life is changed forever, they will never see their mother again but yet Matt is alive and his kids can visit him. Yes what Heather and Bradley did was wrong but it doesn't give that douche bag the right to take someone's life, he isn't God. I hope that he gets the maximum sentence because those 2 young men that are left without a mother are the ones that are paying the price for everyone's mistakes. Matt's kids still have their mother who also cheated on Matt and they still have Matt but Heather's children are left without a mother. Can you imagine being a young child and having your mother taken away? Think about that before you start cutting Matt slack because he doesn't deserve to have a second chance because he has killed once so he can do it again
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I hear you Guess. I agree with you about the unfairness given to Heathers children, so why completely remove the "douche bag" from thier lives as well. I think the only disagreement we have is the length of the sentence, I think we agree on our thoughts about Matt. He did a horrible thing, but what existed in him at the time of the killings were emotions that most will never experience. Jealousy is a demon that can only be controlled by the best of us. Matt obviously couldn't control it and probably didn't want to control it. I still stand by a 35 year sentence considering the circumstances.
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Just so you know Heather had those children before she married Matt so they aren't his kids so he will never be in their lives any way
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I didn't know that. I knew heather from TLC but never inquired about the kids, I assumed they were Matt's. I do know she was a good mother and spent a lot of time with them at the kitchen table talking and doing activities.
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