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Hays County is located in Central Texas. It was established in 1848. Our County Seat is San Marcos. Visit this
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SAN MARCOS , Texas – The Office of Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced today that Hays County District Judge Joe Pool sentenced 49-year-old Juan Manuel Yanez to life in prison on Thursday, May 14, for murdering 43-year-old Victoria Valadez in her San Marcos apartment in February 2025. The sentence was the maximum punishment available under the law. Yanez had previously entered a “guilty” plea to the crime at a May 6 hearing and had agreed to let the Court determine his punishment. Yanez will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 30 years in prison. Evidence presented in the punishment hearing showed that on Feb. 7, 2025, Yanez called 9-1-1 and told the operator he had just shot his wife. Yanez and Valadez were not legally married, but they had been romantically involved for several months leading up to the shooting. San Marcos Police Department officers traced the call to an apartment unit on River Road, where they found a woman with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Investigators found no sign of a struggle, and the evidence supported the conclusion that she may have been asleep when she was killed. Surveillance video from a 7-Eleven near the crime scene — taken about 20 minutes before the 911 call — showed Yanez arriving in the victim’s truck, buying four beers and driving toward the River Road apartment. The beers were found at the crime scene: two were opened, and all four were still cold to the touch. Yanez’s wallet was also found on the victim’s nightstand. After the 9-1-1 call, Yanez disposed of the murder weapon, which was never recovered, and fled to Houston, where he maintained a residence and a separate family. Harris County authorities apprehended Yanez in the vicinity of his Houston residence after a brief manhunt. Forensic testing confirmed the victim’s blood was on clothing and jewelry collected from Yanez. Testing also found gunshot residue. When officers recovered Yanez’s cellphone, they discovered its SIM card had been physically removed before the phone was collected by police, which investigators said indicated an attempt to inhibit efforts to track Yanez as he fled. Despite extensive forensic examination of digital evidence in the case, investigators were never able to determine a motive for the murder. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Jon English and Abigail Whitaker prosecuted the case. “This sentence recognizes the truth of what happened in that apartment: a life was taken, a family was destroyed, and a community was disrupted. Justice required a sentence equal to the gravity of that crime,” English said. “Judge Pool’s sentence delivered that justice for the community and the victim’s loved ones, and the exceptional work of the San Marcos Police Department made this outcome possible.” “The family showed extraordinary courage throughout this case and through the sentencing hearing,” Whitaker said. “Their strength ensured the court saw not only the facts of the murder, but also the true cost to the victim’s family and the community as a whole.” Multiple officers from the San Marcos Police Department worked the case, with the investigation led by Detective Logan Murphy and Detective Chris Marroquin. The State’s trial team included members of the District Attorney’s Family Justice Unit and members of the 428th District Court Prosecution team: Prosecutors English and Whitaker, Victim Assistance Coordinator Annalise Brewer-Hall, Digital Media Evidence Legal Assistants Kendall Evans and Mercedes Pena, Legal Assistant Avery Slocum, HCCDAO Investigator Sgt. Erica Saenz and HCCDAO Investigator Sgt. David Cabrera. # # #
SAN MARCOS , Texas – The office of Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins announced that on May 7, 46-year-old James Shope was found guilty by a Hays County jury of two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years of age and one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact. After the punishment phase of trial, the jury returned a verdict of two life sentences in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the two continuous sexual abuse counts and the maximum punishment available for indecency with a child by sexual contact — 20 years’ imprisonment. There is no possibility of parole for the convictions of continuous sexual abuse of a child. District Judge Joe Pool ordered that the two life sentences run consecutively, stating, “We don’t accept this in Hays County.” The investigation of Shope began in August of 2023 when two children outcried that Shope had sexually abused them from their kindergarten to their pre-teen years. They further testified to his efforts to keep them silent. After the trial, the jury expressed their unanimous belief in the girls and sympathy for their well-being during their testimony. This case was investigated by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, with lead detective Corporal Chase Crow, and was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cassidy Story and Abigail Whitaker, assisted by Annalise Baker, Zoie Sanders, Kendall Evans, and Sergeant Investigator David Cabrera. “Our duty is to seek justice, and this jury and judge delivered exactly that,” Story said. “I am so proud of our team’s continued vigilance in protecting the children of this county and of the children who bravely faced the perpetrator in court. Although no verdict will ever heal the lifelong trauma this man has caused, I sincerely hope that both children gain strength and confidence from the jury’s very clear words, ‘we believe you.’” # # #
HAYS COUNTY, Texas — The Homeless Coalition of Hays County successfully participated in the 2026 Point‑in‑Time (PIT) Count, an annual, nationwide effort that documents the number of people experiencing homelessness in communities across the United States. On Jan. 22, 2026, around 70 volunteers were deployed across Hays County to count and connect with unhoused neighbors, offering resource bags with hygiene items and information about local available services. Support and Participation This year, the Hays County Health Department’s Behavioral Health Coordinator, Dr. Izzy Vigil, led the effort alongside Erika Rosa, co‑founder of Breaking Bread Outreach Ministries. Dr. Vigil and Erika Rosa worked closely with fellow PIT Count Board members from local partners, including Southside Community Center, the Hays County Food Bank and other leadership from the Homeless Coalition of Hays County. Their collaboration helped ensure the count was conducted safely, accurately, and with respect for all those encountered on the day of the count. Data was sent to the Texas Homeless Network (THN), where it was cleaned and analyzed. The report was subsequently shared with the Homeless Coalition of Hays County for dissemination of the data to municipalities and the greater Hays County community. Results of the 2026 PIT Count The 2026 PIT Count documented: 151 people are experiencing homelessness across Hays County. Survey responses were primarily collected in San Marcos (n = 144), with smaller numbers in Kyle (n = 6) and Buda (n = 1). The majority of individuals counted were adults ages 25–64, with most experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Approximately 21% of respondents identified as survivors of domestic violence. The total shows a decrease of 36 people compared to the 2025 count of 187. These findings help measure current needs, identify service gaps and guide strategic planning for homelessness response efforts across Hays County. It is important to emphasize that the PIT Count is a one‑night snapshot and does not capture the full scope of homelessness throughout the year, particularly individuals who are precariously housed or at risk. Additionally, the timing of this year’s count may have influenced the results due to environmental factors that may have affected shelter utilization and overall participation. Ongoing Collaboration and Long‑Term Strategy Hays County remains committed to working alongside the Homeless Coalition of Hays County, local nonprofits, service providers, municipalities and community leaders to strengthen coordinated responses to homelessness. In the year ahead, the County will focus on expanding outreach partnerships to improve year‑round engagement with unhoused individuals, enhancing data sharing and service coordination among local partners to streamline access to support and advancing funding initiatives and grant applications that build the capacity of local homelessness response systems. These efforts also aim to address the social determinants of health by addressing key components of primary prevention, such as housing, transportation and access to healthcare. “Sustained progress takes shared commitment. We are continuing to build strong partnerships across our community so that our response is coordinated, consistent and grounded in long-term solutions,” said Hays County Health Department Behavioral Health Coordinator Dr. Izzy Vigil. “This work is about strengthening systems over time while staying focused on the people we serve and the conditions that support their health and stability.” About the Point‑in‑Time Count The PIT Count is a federally required initiative coordinated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It provides a snapshot of homelessness on a single night in January and informs funding, policy decisions and local planning efforts. For more information on the PIT Count and Hays County’s work to support homelessness response efforts, contact The Homeless Coalition of Hays County at hayscounty.lhc@gmail.com. ###
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