The Grim Legacy of Ramon Torres Hernandez

A Chilling Tale of Murder in Texas

Ramon Torres Hernandez was born on November 8, 1971, in Bexar County, Texas. By the time of his death on November 14, 2012, at the Huntsville Unit in Huntsville, Texas, he had become infamous as a serial killer, kidnapper, and rapist, responsible for a series of brutal crimes that haunted the state for nearly a decade. Hernandez was executed by lethal injection, having been convicted of capital murder for his heinous acts between 1994 and 2001.

A Path to Violence

Hernandez's criminal exploits began with a burglary that turned even more sinister. During the course of this crime, he raped a woman, an act that led to an 18-year prison sentence. However, in a turn of fate that would have dire consequences, he was paroled on June 11, 1993. Free again, his malevolence would soon resurface, leading to the tragic events that would define his legacy.

The Murders

The Fateful Night in December

On December 16, 1994, the tranquil lives of two young girls, Sarah Beth Gonzales, aged 13, and her cousin, Priscilla Almares, aged 12, were tragically cut short. The girls vanished after leaving a friend's house, only to be found dead the following day at Rodriguez Park. Both had been sexually assaulted before being murdered. Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, the investigation struggled to identify a suspect. The case went cold, leaving a community in mourning and families in anguish.

A Sinister Trio

Years later, on March 31, 2001, Hernandez's violent tendencies once again surfaced. Accompanied by his girlfriend Asel Abdygapparova and his friend Santos Minjares, Hernandez prowled the streets of San Antonio's westside in search of a victim. They found Rosa Maria Rosado, a 37-year-old woman waiting alone at a bus stop. Forcing her into their car, they duct-taped her mouth, and both Hernandez and Santos raped and murdered her. In a grim attempt to cover their tracks, they buried Rosado in a shallow grave.

The Investigation and Apprehension

In the days following Rosado's murder, Asel Abdygapparova approached the police, willing to divulge the location of Rosado's body. Her cooperation led investigators to Hernandez, who was implicated further when a shovel, purchased by Abdygapparova at Hernandez's behest, was discovered. Hernandez was apprehended on April 4, 2001, with Santos following a day later.

While awaiting trial, Hernandez's DNA was matched to the biological evidence found at the scene of the Gonzales and Almares murders, connecting him to their untimely deaths. Additionally, detectives linked him to another double murder of teenagers that had occurred a month before the deaths of Gonzales and Almares, though evidence was insufficient to charge him with these crimes.

Justice Served

On October 21, 2002, Ramon Torres Hernandez faced the consequences of his actions. Having confessed to the murders, he was sentenced to death. Santos Minjares, found guilty in a separate trial, received the same fate but died of natural causes on death row in January 2012, before his execution could be carried out. Asel Abdygapparova, who played a significant role in Rosado's murder, was initially sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 40 years. Her conviction was later overturned on appeal, and in 2014, she pleaded no contest to murder, resulting in a reduced sentence of 28 years. She was eventually paroled and deported to Kazakhstan, claiming she had acted out of fear during the crime.

The Execution

Hernandez's execution took place on November 14, 2012. As he lay strapped to the gurney, his final words were directed to his brother. He became the 14th inmate executed in Texas that year, his life ending in the same state where his violent spree had begun, leaving behind a trail of devastation.

Sources

• "Texas executes man who abducted, murdered single mother" - Reuters, November 15, 2012
• "Man Executed For 2001 San Antonio Slaying" - cbslocal.com, November 15, 2012
• "Dying killer focuses on his brother" - mysanantonio.com, November 14, 2012
• "Texas executes Hernandez for 2001 slaying of woman abducted from San Antonio bus stop" - Fox News, November 14, 2012
• "San Antonio sex offender put to death" - itemonline.com, November 15, 2012
• "Inmate Information" - Texas Department of Criminal Justice
• Casady, Michelle. "Woman takes plea for 2001 abduction, slaying of single mom" - mySA, February 6, 2014

For more information, visit the Wikipedia page.