Pueblo, CO – A Colorado woman is standing trial this week on charges she killed her two young children in 2018 and hid their bodies for nearly six years — one encased in hardened concrete inside a storage unit and the other locked in a suitcase in the trunk of her car. Prosecutors say the case came to light after her mother grew suspicious and alerted police.
Accused Mother and Father Face Murder Allegations
Corena Minjarez, 37, faces two counts of first-degree murder of a victim under 12 by a person in a position of trust, as well as two counts of abuse of a corpse. Authorities allege she and Jesus Dominguez, the children’s father, were responsible for the deaths of Jesus Dominguez Jr., 5, and Yesenia Dominguez, 3. According to The Pueblo Chieftain, Dominguez accepted a plea deal in July, agreeing to plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against Minjarez.
Troubled Relationship and Reported Abuse
Police testified that Minjarez’s relationship with Dominguez was volatile, and that she allegedly directed her frustrations toward the children, becoming jealous of their biological mother. Family members told investigators they were concerned about her treatment of the kids. In one earlier incident, Minjarez allegedly locked Yesenia in a room and forced her to finish eating a carrot, prompting her teenage son to criticize her harsh behavior.
Mother’s Confession and Disturbing Discovery
A friend told police that Minjarez once admitted she had hidden the children’s bodies in 2018 after they both died “the exact same way” of supposed accidental causes. But suspicion grew when Minjarez’s mother noticed a metal container filled with concrete in the couple’s unit at Kings Storage on W Sixth Street. The storage facility was preparing to clear the unit after the couple was evicted. She also recalled a “foul smell” from Minjarez’s car in the summer of 2018, according to The Pueblo Chieftain.
Police Recover the Children’s Remains
On January 20, 2024, officers searched the metal container at the storage facility and found Yesenia’s remains. An autopsy determined she died from “homicidal violence,” though the exact cause could not be determined due to decomposition. Weeks later, detectives located Minjarez’s vehicle at a local scrap yard. On February 6, 2024, police found a suitcase in the trunk containing the body of Jesus Jr., also determined to have been a victim of “homicidal violence.”
No Missing Person Reports Filed
Investigators noted that no missing person reports had been filed for either child. This absence of reporting, coupled with the manner in which the bodies were hidden, has been a key point in the prosecution’s case. Jury selection for Minjarez’s trial began Monday and is expected to continue through August 29. Dominguez is scheduled for sentencing on September 12.
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