PASADENA – Alex Guajardo told the family of his murdered wife, “As God is my witness, I take full responsibility for this”.
In July 2019, Guajardo was arrested for savagely beating his wife and torturing and killing her cat. Within hours of his arrest, he was released from jail by a judge who granted him a personal recognizance bond that required no money, not one dime.
Less than 24 hours later he attacked his wife Caitlynne again, this time stabbing her 20 times in the stomach, killing her and the couple’s unborn son.
Today, in front of his victim’s family, 27-year-old Guajardo pleaded guilty to 2 counts of murder and was sentenced to 2 life terms in prison, plus 10 extra years for carrying a makeshift knife while in jail.
“I have played this day over and over again in my head for the last 5 years,” Melanie Infinger, Caitlynne Guajardo’s mother said after the sentencing today.
“My daughter did everything right, she called the police, she had him arrested, but the system failed her and us and she was killed,” Infinger said.
At the time of the murder, Alex Guajardo had already been released from jail on several PR bonds, that required no money be paid.
For that reason, this case became a flashpoint for prosecutors and lawmakers fighting to keep judges from issuing personal recognizance bonds.
In 2021 a bill named after Caitlynne was proposed in Austin to keep judges from releasing these violent offenders and doling out these PR bonds, but it did not get voted into law.
“When you see these cases being thrown out by the hundreds, it’s really alarming, and it can only mean more crime victims,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said outside the courtroom today, following Guajardo’s sentencing. “He tortured and killed an animal, there were prior beatings, then a severe beating before he was released on bond to murder the victim as brutally as possible.”
As for Caitlynne’s mother, Melanie, she says she is making it her mission now to fight to keep offenders like Alex Guajardo from engaging in domestic violence and from being released on these no-money bonds.
“I have just literally made it my mission from this happening, not only to advocate for domestic violence but advocate for legislation change and I just encourage everyone to know who you are voting for,” Melanie said.
