A Hays County grand jury earlier this month issued a capital murder indictment against a Kyle woman accused of killing her five-year-old daughter in January.
The indictment was one of two issued by the grand jury against Krystle Conception Villanueva, 25, of Kyle.
According to a Hays County press release, the first indictment against Villanueva is capital murder of a person under ten years of age. The second was for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which was issued after Villanueva was suspected of stabbing Eustorgio Arellano-Uresti, 58, her father-in-law. An indictment is a formal accusation against an individual suspected of a serious crime but does not determine guilt or innocence.
On Jan. 5, Hays County authorities responded to a home in the 200 block of Willow Terrace in the Green Pastures subdivision.
The Hays Free Press reported authorities discovered Uresti outside of the home with stab wounds across his forehead, his back and left shoulder, according to a probable cause affidavit provided by Hays County Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith.
When authorities entered the home, they discovered the body of Villanueva’s daughter, whose body had been “mutilated,” according to Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler in a January press conference.
Cutler added the crime was one of the “worst cases” he had seen in his 43 years in law enforcement and one of the most “horrific cases in the history of Hays County.”
Villanueva was charged in January with Capital Murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. It remains unknown if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crime.
Uresti alleged in the affidavit Villanueva used drugs, including marijuana.
The Hays Free Press reported in January a relative of Villanueva informed authorities she had been admitted to a treatment facility in late 2015 for substance abuse. While in treatment, Villanueva was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia and ADHS.
According to a release, the Hays County District Attorney’s office will make no further comment on the case at this time. Some aspects of the investigation are ongoing, according to the county’s release.
There is no decision on whether or not the DA’s office will seek the death penalty.
