Man sentenced to 30 years in wife's stabbing death

Carlos Martinez pleads guilty in June 2018 slaying of JoAnn Muniz

SAN ANTONIO – A 42-year-old man was sentenced Monday to 30 years in prison for the June 2018 murder of his wife.

According to an arrest affidavit, JoAnn Munoz, 38, was found in a bedroom of her apartment by her teenage daughters. Muniz was holding a towel around her neck and bleeding profusely.

Muniz told her daughters, "I need help. I'm dying," according to an affidavit.

Related: 'I need help, I'm dying,' woman pleaded after husband allegedly stabbed her in neck

The daughters told police that they saw Carlos Martinez flee from the apartment. He was arrested two days later by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.

Muniz's sister, daughter and father were in court as Martinez was sentenced as part of a plea agreement.

"She helped him a lot to be a better person, but it did not happen," the victim's father, Jose Muniz, said.

There was an enhancement addition to the  agreement that dictates Martinez must serve half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
 


About the Authors:

Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role.