Jury selection is scheduled to start Monday, Feb. 24, in the capital murder trial of former Kyle resident Krystle Villanueva, 27.
She is accused of killing and mutilating her five-year-old daughter Giovanna Lanae Hernandez in January 2017. Authorities said the little girl was stabbed to death. Her mutilated body was found inside a mobile home in Willow Terrace in Kyle on Jan. 5, 2017 by a SWAT team.
Law enforcement was alerted to the situation by Villanueva’s father-in-law Eustorgio Arellano-Uresti, who called 911. He had multiple stab wounds when deputies located him outside the mobile home and told them Villanueva was inside with the little girl.
In a news conference after Villanueva’s arrest, Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler said the decision to call the SWAT team was made based on Arellano-Uresti’s remarks. Though he offered few details of the case, Cutler said at the time it was one of the worst cases he had seen and likely “one of the most horrific cases in the history of Hays County.”
Villanueva has been behind bars in Hays County Jail since her arrest.
District Attorney Wes Mau said he will not seek the death penalty. Following jury selection on Monday, testimony in the case is expected to begin Tuesday morning.
