FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MOTHER OF SARIYAH AND SEBASTIAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR HER ROLE IN MURDERS

San Antonio, Texas: February 19, 2010

Today, Valerie Lopez, age 22, was sentenced in the 175th District Court to Life in prison without parole for the murder of her two children, Sariyah Garcia, age 14 months, and Sebastian Lopez, age four months. Valerie Lopez had entered into a plea agreement with the State wherein she agreed to cooperate in the prosecution of Jerry Salazar, age 31, in exchange for the life sentence. In December of 2009, Salazar pled guilty to Injury to a Child by Omission and received a life sentence. The two deceased babies were found wrapped in plastic bags under a house located on Winnepeg Street in March of 2007. Both Lopez and Salazar were the subject of a weeklong manhunt by authorities.

The sentence was imposed by the Honorable Mary Roman, Judge of the 175th District Court. Under the terms of her Plea Agreement, Lopez was sentenced to Life imprisonment without parole.

For more information, contact Cliff Herberg, First Assistant District Attorney, at 210-335-2342.