Houston man sentenced to life in prison after killing mother of five

HOUSTON (KIAH) – A Houston man has been sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in a cold case murder dating back to 2009. The conviction marks a significant breakthrough in the long-unsolved case, bringing justice to the victim’s family after years of uncertainty.

Jorge Trevino Cardenas, 52, was already incarcerated for a previous conviction of sexual assault against a child. He was arrested in 2014, at which time DNA was collected and entered into a database.

Authorities emphasized the importance of perseverance in solving cold cases and highlighted the role of advancements in forensic technology in securing this conviction as announced by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

“This was a horrific crime, and law enforcement never stopped pursuing the killer,” Ogg stated. “Even when the case went cold, investigators continued their efforts. When charges were finally filed, prosecutors were able to deliver justice for the victim and her family.”

On the evening of April 24, 2009, Domitila Alvarez, a 38-year-old mother of five, visited her family’s auto shop in Alief to handle some business. Hours later, her family discovered her body in the office, where she had been brutally stabbed multiple times during an altercation with an assailant wielding a long knife. Blood was found on her clothes, as well as on the office door, security bars, and a parked truck outside.

Despite thorough investigations, the case went cold due to a lack of clear motives and leads.

In 2021, the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division Cold Case Squad revisited the evidence as part of a case review project and identified Cardenas through DNA testing. The results confirmed that his DNA matched samples found on Alvarez’s clothing, the door, the security bars, and the truck.

Investigators theorized that Cardenas likely injured himself during the struggle, which mixed his blood with the victim’s.

Cardenas was charged with murder in January 2023, and after a four-day trial, a jury convicted him on Thursday. He was sentenced to life in prison by the judge.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Condon, chief of the Homicide Division, prosecuted the case alongside ADA Michael Simons from the Trial Bureau.

“DNA does not lie or forget; it simply waits,” Condon remarked. “There was a literal blood trail from the victim’s body to Jorge Cardenas.”

Additionally, a witness testified that Cardenas lived near the auto shop, worked as a security guard nearby, and carried a long, fixed-blade knife with a serrated edge, consistent with the weapon used to kill Alvarez.

Cardenas must serve at least 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

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