HOUSTON — A man who killed his pregnant wife was sentenced to two life sentences on Tuesday.
On Aug. 3, 2019, Alex Guajardo, 27, stabbed his wife 20 times, killing her and her unborn child. He pleaded guilty to two murder charges in exchange for the possibility of parole.
His guilty plea led to Caitlynne Guajardo's family getting the justice they had long awaited.
Not a day goes by that Melanie Infinger doesn't think about her daughter's life which was cut short at just 20 years old. Her latest tattoo is a portrait of Caitlynne.
"My sweet girl," Infinger said.
Caitlynne was four months pregnant when her husband, Alex Guajardo, then 22, stabbed her to death inside her Pasadena apartment five years ago.
"This case, more than any other case pending in the courthouse, highlights the dangers and red flags of domestic violence. They were all there for the system to see," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said.
Alex Guajardo had been released on a PR (personal recognizance) bond just 17 hours after prosecutors said he was arrested for beating Caitlynne and torturing and killing their cat.
"The victim in this case thought she was safe," Ogg said. "He tortured and killed an animal, there were prior beatings, then a severe beating before he was released on bond to murder the victim as brutally as possible."
Caitlynne had even called her mother to let her know she felt safe because he had been arrested.
The case garnered a lot of attention and officials called for bond reform that would prevent violent suspects from being released on PR bonds -- or free bonds.
"Caitlynne did what she was supposed to do -- she had him arrested, and the justice system failed her," Infinger said. "She was a hero, she stood up to him and it was supposed to be over. But the justice system let him out, and he brutally killed her."
Infinger was relieved when her daughter's killer accepted two life sentences as part of a plea deal but still feels that the justice system ultimately failed her daughter.
"I have replayed this day in my head for the past five years and two months," she said. "The justice system let him out with a signature and he brutally killed her. I'm at peace and I'm ready to close this chapter and move forward and continue using my voice and advocating for change, I will do that until the day I die."
In court on Tuesday, after learning his sentence, Alex Guajardo read a handwritten letter in which he took full accountability.
"He said it from day one that if he could give his life to bring Caitlynne back, he would," defense attorney Justin Keiter said.
Alex Guajardo will be eligible for parole after serving at least 30 years but he was hit with an additional 10 years for having two shanks in jail.