Pueblo County, Colo. – A Colorado woman has been convicted of the 2018 killings of her boyfriend’s two young children, ages 3 and 5, after prosecutors revealed chilling details of abuse, drug use, and efforts to hide their bodies in concrete and a car trunk for nearly a decade.
Conviction and Sentencing
Corena Minjarez, 37, of Pueblo County, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder of a victim under 12 by a person in a position of trust, along with two counts of abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors said Minjarez received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after the jury returned a unanimous verdict this week.
Her boyfriend, Jesus Dominguez, 37, previously accepted a plea deal in July for second-degree murder in exchange for his testimony against Minjarez.
Details of the Abuse
According to the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the children—Jesus Dominguez Jr., 5, and Yesenia Dominguez, 3—suffered horrific treatment at the hands of Minjarez.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Minjarez forced the children to sit inside plastic bags in her car, sprayed them with a high-pressure car wash hose, and neglected medical care when their health deteriorated.
Dominguez testified that on March 14, 2018, Yesenia stopped breathing after being forced to sit in a trash bag in the car. Instead of seeking medical help, the couple placed her body in a tote and later stored it in the trunk of a Pontiac.
Weeks later, Minjarez allegedly told Dominguez that Jesus Jr. also stopped breathing in the backseat of the car. His body was later hidden in suitcases and trash bags near the Pueblo Dam.
Discovery of the Children’s Remains
The disturbing cover-up lasted years. Authorities said Yesenia’s remains were eventually found in January 2024 inside a metal container filled with hardened concrete at a Pueblo storage unit. Two weeks later, investigators discovered Jesus Jr.’s remains in the trunk of the Pontiac, which had been sent to a scrapyard.
Prosecutors said the case came to light after Minjarez’s mother reported suspicious activity, including a foul smell from her daughter’s car in 2018 and the presence of a heavy container at the storage unit.
“Despite the defense’s claims that the co-defendant acted alone, the evidence clearly demonstrated that Minjarez was responsible for the deaths of these two children,” prosecutors said in a press release.
Background of the Case
Dominguez described how he and Minjarez were heavily involved in drug use, often consuming Percocet and methamphetamine around the children. He testified that Minjarez grew increasingly abusive toward the children, frustrated by their potty training struggles and jealous of their biological mother.
Family members and friends had raised concerns about Minjarez’s treatment of the children, with one friend later admitting Minjarez confessed to hiding the bodies in 2018.
Jury Trial and Verdict
The jury trial began on Aug. 11, 2025, with prosecutors presenting compelling evidence of abuse, neglect, and concealment. After deliberating for more than a day, jurors returned a unanimous verdict, finding Minjarez guilty on all counts.
She was sentenced immediately to two life terms without parole, ending a case prosecutors described as one of the most disturbing child abuse investigations in Pueblo County history.
Conclusion
The conviction of Corena Minjarez brings justice for Jesus Jr., 5, and Yesenia, 3, whose tragic deaths and years-long concealment shocked the community. Prosecutors praised the combined efforts of investigators and witnesses who helped secure the guilty verdict.
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