Woman sentenced in 2012 stabbing death of husband

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A Harris County jury has sentenced Sandra Jean Melgar to 27 years in prison after she was convicted in the 2012 stabbing death of her husband Jaime Melgar.

“Sandra Melgar hacked the life out of her husband Jaime, and for that, she will spend the balance of her life on a cell block,” said Assistant District Attorney Colleen Barnett in a statement released by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday.

“She showed no remorse,” added Barnett. “The sentence is just.”

Sandra was also fined $10,000.

“I want to thank all the sheriff’s department investigators, whose tireless efforts helped the jury see through this woman’s convoluted scheme,” said Barnett. HCDAO says Sandra sought to collect on a life insurance policy. 

Jury selection began on Aug. 8 in the trial of Sandra , 58, with testimony lasting almost two weeks, culminating with closing arguments and deliberations on Tuesday in 178th District Court.

The judge will determine if the trial proceeds to the punishment phase.

When family members arrived to the Melgars' home on Kelsey Meadows Court near Village Terrace on Dec. 23, 2012, they found Jaime's body in one part of the home and Sandra hiding in a closet and calling for help. Relatives were visiting the home to celebrate the couple's 32nd anniversary, which was to be observed the following day.

Jaime's death was initially investigated as a robbery, but Sandra was later arrested on July 29, 2014.