PENITAS – A judge sentenced a Peñitas man to 50 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend.

A jury was selected on September 13, 2022 and the trial was held from September 13, 2022 to September 19, 2022. The jury reached a verdict on September 20, 2022 and Eduardo Cruz Gonzalez, 34, was found guilty of 1 count of Murder (1^st degree felony). The case went before the Honorable Judge Fernando Mancias of the 93^rd District Court and he sentenced Gonzalez to 50 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney’s J. Enereo Bazan and Michelle V. Beltran; with assistance by Victim’s Advocate Kayla Contreras; and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.

“I want to commend ADA J. Enereo Bazan and ADA Michelle V. Beltran for getting this violent offender off our streets,” said Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez, Jr. “We encourage anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse to call their local law enforcement agencies and get the help they need. Our Victims Unit is also available to provide victims services. You are not alone.”

The District Attorney’s Office’s Victims Unit can be reached at (956) 292-7616.

The Defendant was the Victim’s on-and-off boyfriend of 8 months. The Victim attempted to end the relationship in the early morning hours of October 1, 2017. The Defendant proceeded to attack and brutally beat the Victim before ultimately killing her by taking a 33 pound cinder block and striking her in the back of the head.