Mathis, TX – A 22-year-old Texas mother, who admitted to killing her 7-month-old daughter in a fit of rage, has pleaded guilty to two felony counts and will spend the rest of her life behind bars. Authorities say Olivia Munoz confessed to fatally injuring her infant, Hazel Munoz, because she was angry at the child’s father.
The Incident: Infant Found Unresponsive at Home
The horrifying events unfolded on the morning of December 19, 2023, when Mathis Police Department officers were called to a residence on South Marigold Street in Mathis, a small town roughly 35 miles northwest of Corpus Christi.
According to police reports, Munoz called 911 after finding her baby unresponsive. When officers arrived, they discovered 7-month-old Hazel not breathing. Emergency medical responders performed CPR and rushed the infant to ER 24/7 Northwest in Corpus Christi, but the baby was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
“Someone in the house called 911 after Munoz woke up to find her daughter unresponsive,” said Mathis Police Chief Guillermo “Willie” Figueroa. “Her mother noticed the baby wasn’t breathing and told another family member to dial 911.”
What seemed at first like a medical emergency soon revealed a far darker truth.
Investigation and Evidence: Autopsy Reveals Prolonged Abuse
Hospital officials contacted police after discovering multiple injuries on Hazel’s tiny body, prompting a full criminal investigation. When questioned by detectives, Munoz allegedly confessed to injuring her daughter on three separate occasions and admitted that she never sought medical attention for the baby.
At the time of her arrest, Munoz was pregnant and also the mother of another daughter, just 1 year and 5 months old, who showed no signs of harm.
“She admitted she had a lot of anger towards the 7-month-old baby due to problems she had with the baby’s father,” Chief Figueroa said.
A subsequent autopsy revealed that Hazel had suffered severe fractures in her arms, ribs, and skull, consistent with prolonged physical abuse. The San Patricio County Medical Examiner determined the baby’s death was a homicide.
On December 20, 2023, Munoz was arrested on two counts of injury to a child, which were later upgraded to murder after the autopsy results were reviewed.
Court Proceedings: Capital Murder Charges and Plea Deal
Following her arrest, Munoz was indicted in March 2024 on two counts of capital murder and one count of injury to a child in Texas’ 343rd District Court, according to the San Patricio County District Attorney’s Office.
The legal process moved slowly, with a psychiatric evaluation and a motion for an insanity defense ordered by the court. The sealed results of that evaluation were filed in September 2024.
In mid-October, prosecutors and defense attorneys reached a plea agreement. On October 24, 2024, Munoz pleaded guilty to murder of a person under 10 years of age and injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily harm.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Munoz will serve two life sentences, ensuring she will never be released from prison.
Officials confirmed that one of the capital murder charges was dropped as part of the agreement, and the formal sentencing hearing will be scheduled soon.
Motive and Confession: “She Had a Lot of Anger Towards the Baby”
During questioning, Munoz reportedly told investigators that she took out her anger toward the child’s father on the baby.
“She admitted she had a lot of anger towards the 7-month-old baby due to problems she had with the baby’s father,” Chief Figueroa told reporters.
Police confirmed that all three of Munoz’s children shared the same biological father. Authorities said her admission showed a clear intent to harm, contradicting her earlier claims that Hazel’s death had been accidental.
The Texas Rangers later joined the investigation to assist local law enforcement in gathering forensic evidence and confirming the cause of death.
Background Context: The Legal and Emotional Fallout
Child abuse experts have described the case as one of the most disturbing child homicide investigations in San Patricio County’s history. Prosecutors emphasized that the severity of the violence and Munoz’s failure to seek help made this a case warranting the maximum penalty under Texas law.
Munoz’s actions have sparked renewed calls for mental health screening and family support programs in small communities, where young parents often lack access to counseling and intervention services.
Ongoing Developments and Next Steps
San Patricio County officials confirmed that Munoz remains in custody and will serve her life sentences consecutively once her sentencing hearing is finalized. Her surviving children are now under protective care, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is overseeing their welfare.
Community members in Mathis have held vigils and fundraisers in memory of baby Hazel, describing her as “a light that was taken too soon.”
Conclusion
The case of Olivia Munoz is a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of uncontrolled anger and abuse. As Munoz prepares to spend the rest of her life in prison, the Mathis community continues to mourn 7-month-old Hazel, whose short life ended in unimaginable violence.
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