Jorge Esparza, 26, was sentenced to life in prison on October 31, 2024, following his conviction for the murder of a hospice nurse. The defendant had been on house arrest since April 24, 2024, with an ankle monitor when he committed the crime.
Esparza, who had no prior criminal history, shot the victim in the head after stalking a woman he had been pursuing for some time. On the night of the murder, the victim, a hospice nurse and UTA master's degree student, had just returned from a first date with the woman when Esparza followed his car. He deliberately ran his vehicle into the victim's, prompting the victim to inspect the damage. As the victim stepped out of his car, Esparza shot him in the head.
Dallas police traced the victim’s movements to the woman, who provided information that led to Esparza's identification. In an interview with police, Esparza confessed to the crime. Investigators also uncovered messages and images from Esparza referencing the Netflix show YOU, where the lead character is known for stalking women and murdering their love interests.
Cell phone mapping placed Esparza at the scene of the murder, further solidifying the case against him. As the trial progressed, it was revealed that several other women had been victims of Esparza's stalking, with testimony describing incidents of assault, intimidation, and destruction of property, including tire slashing, graffiti, and arson.
The jury quickly returned a guilty verdict, and after hearing from the victims during the punishment phase, sentenced Esparza to life in prison. The case was investigated by the Dallas Police Department, with assistance from DA Investigator Catherine Justice, James Hammond, and Victim Advocate Maggie Negrete.
