Pretrial hearing held for suspect in '09 Mardi Gras murder
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A pretrial hearing was held Wednesday for the woman accused of helping kill a 21-year-old during Mardi Gras in 2009.
Martha Hernandez and her husband Kenneth Hernandez stand accused of killing 21-year-old Christy Lynne Espinosa, then setting the victim’s body on fire to conceal evidence.
Travis County Sheriff's Office investigators believe the couple picked up Espinosa at a bar in the entertainment district, and killed her shortly after that.
A U.S. Marshall took the stand Wednesday, telling the court that Martha Hernandez was arrested trying to get back into the United States after she had gone to Mexico. A few days later, Kenneth Hernandez was arrested in Austin.
Espinosa's mother said she has no idea how her daughter lost her life in such a violent way.
"I can't explain it, I can't explain it. All I can say is that our lives have changed so much because of this," Diana Espinosa said.
Martha Hernandez will stand trial first. No trial date has been set.
The couple remains in the Travis County Jail on a $250,000 bond.