Esther Garza, a 31-year-old woman of Hispanic ethnicity, tragically lost her life on October 11, 1983, in Fort Bend County, Texas. Her death was part of a horrific spree killing carried out by Eliseo Hernandez Moreno, who was estranged from his wife, Esther Garza. On that fateful day, Moreno embarked on a rampage that resulted in the deaths of six people, including Esther Garza and her brother-in-law, Juan Garza.
Moreno's violent spree began in College Station, Texas, where he first
killed his brother-in-law and Esther Garza. He then continued his killing spree by murdering Texas Highway Patrol trooper Russell Boyd near Hempstead, Texas. Moreno's rampage did not stop there; he also killed three elderly residents of Hempstead—Ann Bennatt, her sister Allie Wilkins, and her brother-in-law James Bennatt. The spree ended when Moreno was arrested by officers at a roadblock in Wharton County while he was driving with another hostage.
Following his arrest, Moreno was found guilty of all six homicides and sentenced to death for the murder of Trooper Boyd. He was also sentenced to 45 years imprisonment for the murders of Juan Garza and Esther Garza, and an additional 35 years imprisonment for the murders of James Bennatt, Allie Wilkins, and Ann Bennatt. Moreno refused any appeals and was executed by lethal injection on March 4, 1987.
The tragic events of October 11, 1983, left a lasting impact on the community and highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence and estrangement. Esther Garza's death, along with the other victims, remains a somber reminder of the importance of addressing and preventing such acts of violence.
