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HOUSTON - A Rosenberg woman has been sentenced for her role in the 2020 fatal shooting of her husband inside their home in September 2020.
Irene Banda, 59, accepted a plea deal and ped guilty to first-degree felony murder for the death of her husband, Ramiro Martinez. Banda was sentenced to life in prison.
Her co-conspirator, Jorge Castellanos, also accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to murder.
Wife sentenced to life for husband's murder
The backstory:
According to law enforcement records, the incident occurred on Sept. 11, 2020, at a home in Rosenberg. Officers initially were called to a burglary in progress call made by Banda. Upon arrival, police found Martinez dead in the master bedroom with a gunshot wound to his back and head.
While Banda initially told investigators that masked intruders had broken in and tied her up, police state there were inconsistencies in her statements.
One example, records mentioned was Banda stating the suspects taped her feet, but another time, she says the suspects told her to tape herself up and she put enough on to where she couldn't even get out of it herself. However, another time she said they taped her feet, but she was able to run to her neighbor's house but didn't know what happened to the tape.
Surveillance footage caught red Hyundai Veloster detectives later learned was rented by Castellanos leaving the neighborhood alongside Martinez's stolen truck. Castellanos was eventually arrested by federal authorities in October 2020 at a Texas border checkpoint.
In February 2024, Castellanos confessed to the murder plot to detectives. He stated the murder was planned at the home of Banda's brother, Arnold DeLeon, where the group discussed abuse Banda alleged she was suffering from Martinez.
According to Castellanos, a plan was made for him and DeLeon to drive to Rosenberg to kill Martinez. In exchange for his help, Banda promised Castellanos that he could take Martinez's guns, watches, and optics.
Castellanos stated that DeLeon provided Banda with pills to drug Martinez. Once they arrived at the house, Banda opened the front door and had left a handgun on the floor for them. Castellanos told police that a struggle ensued in the bedroom between DeLeon and Martinez. He stated during the struggle, DeLeon shot Martinez in the back and then Castellanos then took the weapon and shot Martinez in the head.
Before leaving, Castellanos said he poured bleach on Martinez's body to destroy DNA evidence and loosely tied Banda up with cord.
The Source: Information for this article was gathered directly from official court records.