MATHIS, TX – A young mother from Mathis is set to spend the rest of her life in prison after admitting to killing her 7-month-old daughter in a case that shocked the tight-knit community northwest of Corpus Christi.

Olivia Munoz, 22, entered guilty pleas to charges of murder of a child under 10 and injury to a child with intent to cause significant bodily harm. Her plea deal, finalized in October, led to two life sentences handed down by a San Patricio County judge. This week, Munoz was transferred to the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to begin serving her sentences.

Authorities first became aware of the tragedy on December 19, 2023. Around 6:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a home on South Marigold Street in Mathis after reports of an unresponsive infant. When police arrived, they found baby Hazel Munoz not breathing. Emergency medical crews attempted resuscitation before transporting her to a medical center in Corpus Christi, but the child was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

According to law enforcement, the investigation quickly revealed a series of injuries. Medical examiners gave details to police about the extent of the trauma found on Hazel’s small body, including fractures in her arms, ribs, and skull, which raised immediate suspicions about prolonged abuse.

Munoz, who was pregnant at the time and also caring for another young daughter, was questioned by detectives later that day. She reportedly admitted to hurting Hazel on multiple occasions and acknowledged not seeking medical care for the baby after the incidents.

Police initially arrested Munoz on two counts of injury to a child following her admission. The following month, autopsy results confirmed that Hazel’s death was a homicide resulting from sustained abuse. This development led authorities to upgrade the charges against Munoz to include murder.

Law enforcement officials say Munoz disclosed a motive tied to personal conflicts involving Hazel’s father. During interviews, Munoz allegedly explained that difficulties in her relationship with the father of her children fueled her anger toward the infant, admitting to lashing out at Hazel due to those unresolved issues.

As the investigation unfolded, the Texas Rangers joined local authorities. In March 2024, a grand jury formally indicted Munoz on two counts of capital murder and an additional first-degree felony charge of injury to a child. The legal proceedings continued through the summer, including a psychiatric evaluation and an insanity defense motion.

By October, Munoz reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. In exchange for her guilty plea to reduced charges, the state dropped one count of murder and downgraded a capital murder charge to a lesser offense. Munoz received two concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Hazel’s older sibling, who was a toddler at the time, was not found to have any injuries and has since been placed in the care of other family members. The conclusion of the criminal case brings closure to months of investigation, though the brutal circumstances continue to reverberate throughout the Mathis community.