Prosecutors vow to seek justice after Texas wife’s suspicious death

Laredo: Back in January 2021, Marisela Jacaman, the chief assistant district attorney for Webb County, took on the case of Joel Pellot. He was accused of killing his wife, Maria Muñoz, who was just 31. Jacaman teamed up with Ana Karen Garza Gutierrez and other assistant DAs to tackle this tough case. They had to prove that Pellot had both the motive and the means to commit such a crime.

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence was Maria’s daily journals. She had been writing down her thoughts and feelings, giving investigators a glimpse into her life before her tragic death. It was like they could hear her voice through those pages.

Jacaman shared with “48 Hours” how these journals revealed Maria’s character and struggles, showing the love she had for her kids. It was heartbreaking but also powerful.

On September 22, 2020, Officer Gregorio De La Cruz was the first to respond to a 911 call from Pellot. He claimed Maria might have taken pills and was feeling really down. Sadly, despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead.

When De La Cruz arrived, he noticed some odd things at the scene. There was a needle on the stairs and a syringe wrapper lying around. But what really raised eyebrows was a pinprick mark on Maria’s elbow, suggesting she might have had an IV. Pellot, who was a nurse anesthetist, didn’t mention anything about Maria taking more than her prescribed clonazepam.

When Sergeant Luis Mata arrived, he found Pellot acting strangely. He was sweating and seemed evasive during questioning. Pellot claimed he had moved out and was living with a girlfriend, but he met Maria that night for a serious talk about their marriage. This raised even more suspicions for the investigators.

An autopsy revealed that Maria died from mixed drug intoxication, but they couldn’t determine how she died. There was no pill residue in her stomach, which puzzled everyone. Prosecutors thought her death was suspicious but weren’t sure if it was suicide, an accident, or murder.

After Maria’s death, Mata received calls from worried friends and family, and even from Pellot’s colleagues, who mentioned that he was having an affair and that Maria wanted a divorce. This information led them to dig deeper.

Pellot’s former boss suggested running a toxicology test, and when the results came back months later, they found seven different drugs in Maria’s system, including one that could only be given through an IV. This was the breakthrough they needed to arrest Pellot for murder.

Prosecutors believe Pellot might have slipped sedatives into Maria’s coffee and then injected her with other drugs. They think he waited to call 911 until he was sure she was gone.

Even though the prosecution team never met Maria, they felt a connection through her journals. They learned about the emotional abuse she faced and how it affected her. It was clear she was struggling but still held onto hope for her future and her kids.

Maria’s journals painted a picture of a woman who loved her children deeply and wanted to make a better life for them. It’s a tragic story that highlights the importance of seeking justice for those who can no longer speak for themselves.