Contained in the Maria Muñoz homicide case: A have a look at the proof

Maria Muñoz, a younger and wholesome Texas mom, died unexpectedly. A toxicology report later revealed seven totally different surgical medication had been present in her system. Was it homicide or a horrible accident? The proof offered at Joel Pellot‘s trial for the homicide of his spouse tells a special story from what he informed police occurred the day Muñoz died.

Sept. 22, 2020

Muñoz, 31,  a stay-at-home mom, lived in Laredo, Texas, along with her two younger sons and her husband, Pellot. On Sept. 22, 2020, Pellot referred to as 911 saying Muñoz might have taken some prescription tablets and was not respiratory. First responders tried to save lots of her however after failed makes an attempt, Muñoz was declared lifeless at 3:58 a.m. that day. The primary officer on the scene, Gregorio De La Cruz, informed “48 Hours” that Pellot’s habits appeared suspicious and sure features concerning the scene did not fairly make sense. 

Police bodycam video 

When Officer De La Cruz from the Laredo Police Division responded to the 911 name, his bodycam was recording. Pellot, a nurse anesthetist, is seen wearing teal surgical scrubs. The video captured some key moments that made De La Cruz suspect that Pellot might have had one thing to do together with his spouse’s dying.   

The capsule container

A kind of key moments was when De La Cruz requested for the tablets Pellot stated Muñoz had taken. Pellot went to the toilet and De La Cruz says he heard him pull a container from the medication cupboard. De La Cruz thought it was odd as a result of in his expertise when somebody overdoses on medication, they’re often discovered close to the particular person. On this case, the clonazepam tablets prescribed to Pellot, had been in one other room. 

Later, Pellot is seen on digicam grabbing the capsule container from the ground and placing it in his pocket. De La Cruz questioned, why would he take the tablets again? Was he hiding one thing? 

Suspicious habits

Along with Pellot placing the tablets in his pocket, there was one thing about his look that De La Cruz stated appeared suspicious. De La Cruz noticed Pellot sweating profusely by way of his scrubs, and De La Cruz stated he appeared like he might have been beneath the affect of medicine.  

Proof on the scene

De La Cruz additionally discovered a needle catheter on the steps on the couple’s residence. This did not make a lot sense to him.  Pellot and Muñoz had two younger youngsters — why would there be a needle on the steps? 

A medical bag

Along with the needle, first responders additionally discovered syringes and IV gear in a medical bag on the residence. Though Pellot was a nurse anesthetist who labored in working rooms, most of these provides are usually present in a medical setting. 

Police interview Joel Pellot

Authorities put Pellot at the back of a cruiser and drove him to the police station for an interview. The cameras captured him crying, screaming, and pushing furnishings round within the interview room.

Throughout this interview, Pellot informed lead investigator Sgt. Luis Mata that he had moved out of the home and was dwelling together with his girlfriend and that he went to see Muñoz to speak about their marriage. Pellot informed Mata that his spouse took the clonazepam tablets in some unspecified time in the future after they talked, and the medical provides discovered on the residence had been his. Pellot stated he was taking steroids. 

An unexplained pinprick mark

What Pellot could not clarify was a purple mark on Muñoz’s proper elbow crease. This mark, together with telephone calls from involved associates, household, and colleagues of Pellot telling Mata that Pellot might have killed Maria, is what led him to request a toxicology screening. 

Maria Muñoz’s personal phrases

Investigators discovered a collection of journals Muñoz used to write down about what was occurring in her life. By way of her writings, they found Muñoz liked her husband and wished to maintain her household collectively, however accepted that he wished to be with another person.

The health worker additionally appeared on the journals and decided Muñoz’s dying was not a suicide. 

Maria Muñoz’s cellphone recordings

Muñoz secretly recorded a dialog on her cellphone that offered a glimpse on how Pellot was treating her. Within the cellphone video, Muñoz is heard asking her husband what he wished out of their marriage. She was making an attempt to maintain her household collectively, however Pellot did not appear occupied with having that dialog.  

“Pray for me”

The day earlier than she died, Muñoz informed her good friend, Yazmin Martinez, that she and Pellot had been going to have a “coronary heart to coronary heart” dialog that night time. Muñoz requested Martinez to wish for her, however not as a result of she suspected her husband was able to killing her. Martinez stated all Muñoz hoped for was an trustworthy dialog with him. 

A bombshell toxicology report

In January 2021, Mata and De La Cruz lastly obtained the toxicology check outcomes that they had been ready for. There was no clonazepam, the drug Pellot claimed Muñoz had taken. However there have been seven different medication in Muñoz’s system: morphine, Demerol, Versed, Propofol, ketamine, lidocaine, and Narcan. Most of them are sometimes used throughout surgical procedure. 

“Maria’s Crew”

District Lawyer Isidro Alaniz chosen a staff of attorneys to signify Muñoz: Karina Rios, Ana Karen Garza Gutierrez, Marisela Jacaman, and Cristal Calderon. Based mostly on the proof collected on the scene, the intensive writings in Muñoz’s journals, interviews with associates, and knowledgeable accounts, they had been satisfied Pellot killed his spouse. 

A responsible verdict

The all-women prosecution staff constructed a powerful case in opposition to Joel Pellot, and confirmed the jury the kind of spouse and mom Maria Muñoz was. The prosecutors informed “48 Hours” that Muñoz’s journals helped them perceive what she was going by way of and motivated them to struggle for justice in her case.

On March 30, 2023, after 9 days of trial, a jury discovered Joel Pellot responsible of murdering his spouse Maria

Maria’s journals had been her testimony

“Maria’s staff” says crucial witness at trial ended up being Muñoz herself. Prosecutors shared with “48 Hours” that they might really feel Maria’s vitality by way of her journals. They describe her as an amazing mom, loving and brilliant.