TYLER, Texas — A Tyler man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend and a mother of three last year.
Javier Valenzuela-Avila, 21, entered a guilty plea to murder on Wednesday afternoon in the 241st District Court in connection with the Sept. 5, 2021 death of Laura Garcia, 25.
He was then sentenced to 50 years because of the plea agreement. Through the plea, he gave up his right to a jury trial.
Tyler police officers came to a house in the 1300 block of E. Dawson St. for a welfare concern on Sept. 5, 2021 just before 8 a.m. When they arrived, officers found Garcia dead from an apparent homicide.
Police later obtained a warrant for Valenzuela-Avila's arrest. He was in a local hospital receiving treatment for a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the time.
Garcia's mother Griselda Perez said her daughter was a beautiful soul and a mother to three sons ages 9, 4 and 2.
"She loved her kids very much. Her priority was her kids," Perez said. "A beautiful daughter that we lost because of this cruel person. I just feel this loss has really impacted the family. The kids miss her so much."
Perez added her daughter's spirit was so lovable, and she was always helping others and wanting people to get along. She also had dreams of becoming a medical assistant.
She said Garcia was a victim of domestic violence. Valenzuela-Avila, who was her boyfriend and not the father of her children, suffocated Garcia because of jealousy, Perez said.
She encouraged those who are domestic violence victims to seek out help.
"I will always speak about her and domestic violence because that's what she went through. No women should go through that. There's plenty of help out there," Perez said.
As she continues to miss her daughter and her smile, Perez said she will work to keep her memory alive.
"I have her voice and I will continue to have her voice like I promised her," Perez said, adding that her grandchildren give her strength.
While the sentencing is complete, Perez knows that her daughter will never come back but Valenzuela-Avila could eventually get out of prison through parole laws. She wishes the laws were different and did not allow parole.
"My daughter will never come back. Regardless of the sentencing, she will never come back. Justice was served, but I feel justice wasn't served (at the same time)," Perez said.
Valenzuela-Avila has been in the Smith County Jail since his arrest in September 2021.