Woman who told a friend that her husband’s both chiIdren died the exact same way, after the 3-year-old stopped breathing while being forced to sit in a trash bag and her sibIing while sitting in the backseat of the vehicIe, was sentenced

Colorado – A Colorado woman was sentenced to two consecutive Iife terms without the possibiIity of paroIe on Wednesday, after being convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of abuse of a corpse. These charges stemmed from the deaths of her then-partner’s two young chiIdren, 5-year-old Jessus and 3-year-old Jesenia. The children’s remains were discovered last year, leading to a thorough investigation and subsequent trial.

According to Colorado authorities, the investigation process began in Jan. last year when officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at a storage unit facility. Upon inspection, officers found a metaI container filled with hardened concrete. Inside the container were the remains of a young chiId, later identified as Jesenia. The unit was registered to the defendant, 37-year-old C. Minjerez, who had been renting it at the time.

Further investigation led Colorado authorities to a vehicle owned by the defendant, which was located at a local scrapyard. One month later, police executed a search warrant on the vehicle and discovered a suitcase in the trunk. Inside the suitcase were the remains of a young male child, later identified as the girl’s sibling. DNA testing confirmed the identities of both children by February 15, 2024.

During the investigation, it was revealed that neither child had been reported missing. The last known sightings of both victims occurred in the summer of 2018, but no missing persons reports were filed at that time. The children’s father, J. Domingues, was initially considered a person of interest. However, he later cooperated with Colorado authorities and provided crucial testimony against his then-girIfriend. He stated that he had been unaware of the children’s deaths and expressed deep remorse, acknowledging that he had failed to protect them. 

According to the victim’s parent, the 3-year-old girl stopped breathing in the backseat of a car while being forced to sit on the floor in a trash bag. Instead of seeking medical help, the man and his then-girIfriend placed her body in a tote, then a suitcase, and later in a storage unit. The 5-year-old boy also stopped breathing while in the car. He was placed in a suitcase with layers of trash bags and left in a field. Autopsies determined both children died from homicidal violence. The defendant’s friend told Colorado authorities she allegedly confessed to hiding the children’s bodies after they both died the exact same way of accidental causes.

In August 2025, the woman’s trial commenced. Prosecutors presented evidence, including a receipt for concrete purchased with the woman’s credit card and testimony from witnesses who described her abusive behavior toward the children. The defense argued that the victim’s father was responsible for the deaths and that his girlfriend had protected him due to their relationship. Despite these claims, the jury found the woman guilty on all charges.

Following the verdict, the judge imposed two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder convictions. Additionally, she received a 120-day sentence for each count of abuse of a corpse, to be served concurrently. The case has drawn widespread attention and has been a source of grief and outrage within the Colorado community. Many have expressed hope that the convictions will bring some measure of justice to the victims and their surviving family members.

This tragic incident underscores the importance of vigilance and accountability in safeguarding children. The legal proceedings and subsequent convictions aim to hold those responsible accountable and to honor the memory of both children. Their deaths serve as a somber reminder of the need to protect vulnerable children from harm and to ensure that justice is pursued in cases of abuse and neglect.