Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Ex-Girlfriend in Arlington

Tarrant County District Attorney's Office announced that a jury convicted 46-year-old Jose Luis Moreno-Castañeda of murder, sentencing him to life in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The conviction follows the death of 44-year-old Evila Yanes, whose body was discovered at around 4:00 AM on October 30, 2022, in a parking lot along North Cooper Street in Arlington. Yanes died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Surveillance footage showed Moreno-Castañeda and Yanes together hours before her death. The defendant, who had a history of domestic violence, was on probation for a prior assault against Yanes, during which he doused her with gasoline. DNA evidence linked him to the crime scene, where his DNA was found on several items, including a beer bottle.

The case was handled by the Arlington Police Department and prosecuted by Allenna Bangs and Kate Hinojosa.