Re: MexiMurder of White Mother Gets Life
Alvarez was arrested
Sept. 17 in Eagle Pass
Nurse's killer takes plea bargain, is sentenced to life without parole
August 12, 2006
The man accused of kidnapping and killing a Christus Spohn nurse last September was convicted of capital murder Friday and sentenced to life in prison by a state district judge, with no possibility of parole.
Jesus Francisco Alvarez, 29, accepted a prosecutor's plea bargain sent to defense attorneys Tuesday, which ensures the former Eagle Pass resident will not be executed in exchange for a guilty plea.
Alvarez kidnapped Spohn Shoreline nurse Debra Slough from the hospital's parking lot and later shot her once in the head o
n a county road just west of Beeville, District Attorney Martha Warner said.
District Judge Janna Whatley took 20 minutes to look over Alvarez's case file before convicting him.
Alvarez waived his right to a jury trial and faces limited opportunity for appeal by accepting the plea deal.
Friday's court date originally was meant as a pretrial hearing, and Warner said she didn't know in advance the defense would accept the deal.
"The deal was in the best interest of Mr. Alvarez," said Elliott H. Costas, Alvarez's lead defense attorney. Costas did not offer further comment.
Warner said the state decided to make the deal to bring immediate closure to Slough's family. If Alvarez was convicted of capital murder in a jury trial and sentenced to death, he would have had years to appeal the decision.
"There's no question in my mind that a Bee County jury would have decided to put a needle in his arm," Warner said . "The family's been waiting a long time for t
his."
Slough, a 45-year-old mother of three, was last seen Sept. 10 in Corpus Christi as she left work at the hospital. Authorities found her body on a Bee County road the next day, and her minivan was missing. Authorities later found Alvarez in Eagle Pass driving Slough's minivan.
Warner said she thinks Alvarez didn't know the nurse before the kidnapping.
"He needed money and wanted to murder her," Warner said. "All he really got out of the whole thing was a car and life without parole."
Warner added that Alvarez tied Slough up in the back of the van. After he stopped on County Road 322, Alvarez untied Slough and told her she could run, Warner said based on police accounts and Alvarez's confession.
Slough wasn't interested in running, Warner said. Alvarez then opened fire, missing the first time but hitting her in the head the second.
Alvarez sat motionless during the hearing, showing little expression. His orange prison jumpsuit and white sneakers cl
ashed with the parquet dance floor of the Bee County Coliseum, which was serving as a temporary 156th District Court courtroom until a new courthouse is finished.
Slough's husband, Corey Slough, could not be reached for comment after the hearing.
"Only God knows why he did it," said Slough's younger brother, Daniel Schwankel. "I'm just glad it's come to an end. It's closing time."
At least one family member will have a chance to address Alvarez directly in a court hearing scheduled for Sept. 21.
Alvarez is the first person to be sentenced to life without parole in Bee County after the Texas Legislature changed capital murder sentencing guidelines during the last regular session.
In other action during Friday's hearing, Alvarez asked the judge for no special treatment in prison and was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.