RICHMOND, Texas – Irene Banda was sentenced to life in prison and Jorge Castellanos was sentenced to 60 years for the 2020 murder of Banda’s husband, Ramiro Martinez, Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton announced.
Banda and Castellanos pleaded guilty to the murder.
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According to evidence presented by prosecutors, Banda, Castellanos, her son Calixtro Serda and her brother, Arnold DeLeon, met at DeLeon’s Corpus Christi home the day before the killing. Banda told DeLeon that Martinez had assaulted her, and DeLeon said he would “do something about it,” prosecutors said.
According to court records, on September 11, 2020, Banda returned to the couple’s home in Rosenberg and gave Martinez alprazolam to make him less alert. She then allowed DeLeon and Castellanos into the home after they drove from Corpus Christi in a rented red Hyundai Veloster
Prosecutors said DeLeon took a gun Banda had left near the entryway and went to Martinez’s bedroom. Investigators believe DeLeon initially missed Martinez, who woke up and fought back. During the struggle, DeLeon shot Martinez in the back before handing the gun to Castellanos, who shot Martinez in the head, prosecutors said.
Afterward, Castellanos tied Banda’s wrists with a computer cord in a way that allowed her to escape easily. He also loaded several of Martinez’s guns into Banda’s Ford F-150. Castellanos later sold the truck and the guns, according to prosecutors.
Rosenberg police began investigating after Banda called 911. A neighbor had seen the red Veloster outside the home, and investigators later traced the vehicle to Castellanos through its rental records. The vehicle was found abandoned in Nueces County with a receipt from a Richmond Walmart, where surveillance video showed Castellanos buying latex gloves and T-shirts before the killing.
Castellanos was arrested while entering the United States at the Hidalgo border crossing.
Banda was not immediately charged. A warrant was issued in March 2024 after Castellanos agreed to provide information about the crime. Investigators later found corroborating evidence in cell phone extractions and call records, including a text from DeLeon to Banda shortly before the murder that read, “outside. open.”
DeLeon died of natural causes in July 2022 before he could be charged. His neighbor, Karen Rodriguez, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence in June 2024 and is serving probation for helping dispose of the Veloster.
At Banda’s sentencing hearing, Martinez’s two oldest children testified about physical, mental and emotional abuse they said they suffered while in Banda’s care during their childhood.
Banda’s defense presented expert testimony alleging that she had been abused by Martinez. Prosecutors challenged the validity of the expert’s testing and presented text messages from Banda’s phone that they said contradicted her claims.
“The truth finds a way to escape even the most evil plots,” Middleton said. “I commend the great investigative work to expose the truth and allow us to speak for the victim.”