Jose Melendez Hernandez, a 48-year-old man from Odessa, Texas, tragically died on April 2, 2019. He was shot in the face while sleeping by Courtney Chelle Rice, his girlfriend at the time. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning in the 2100 block of Stoner Road. Hernandez was transported to Medical Center Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Courtney Rice was later indicted on a first-degree murder charge in August 2019.
She was found guilty of manslaughter by an Ector County jury and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The trial concluded in January 2022, with Judge Denn Whalen presiding over the case. Rice admitted to shooting Hernandez and then calling 911.
The case drew significant attention in Odessa, with many following the legal proceedings closely. The jury's decision to convict Rice on manslaughter charges brought some closure to the tragic event, although it could never fully compensate for the loss of Hernandez.
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