Xavier Garcia is a killer from Lubbock Texas who was convicted of two murders
According to court documents Xavier Garcia would murder Kmydron Jordan who was shot at a convenience store in Lubbock Texas. Police would find the body of Kmydron Jordan inside of a SUV a short distance away
Xavier Garcia would then murder Katrina Castillo a month later. The young woman was fatally stabbed to death during a kidnapping and robbery. Garcia would be arrested driving Katrina Castillo vehicle the next day
Both murders took place in 2018 however Texas prosecutors were set on getting the death penalty for the double murder. However eight years later they would agree to a plea deal which will see Xavier Garcia spend the rest of his miserable life in prison
Xavier Garcia Case
About eight years after Katrina Castillo, 20, was stabbed to death in Lubbock, Xavier Garcia, 28, pleaded guilty to Capital Murder. Garcia also pleaded guilty for the murder of Kmydron Jordan.
Instead of prosecutors continuing to push for the death penalty, Garcia was sentenced for killing Castillo to life in prison without parole. Garcia got life in prison for the murder of Jordan. The sentences will run consecutively.
Garcia has been at the Lubbock jail since 2018, one of the longest stays among current inmates, based on available records.
In January 2018, officers found the body of Jordan in an SUV at 84th Street and Avenue N. Police later determined that Jordan had been shot at a convenience store at 82nd Street and Interstate 27.
Castillo was found dead on February 5, 2018, in the backyard of a home in the 4200 block of East 2nd Street, just outside city limits. A day later, Garcia was found in Castillo’s car and arrested. Court documents stated Garcia admitted to killing Castillo during an interview with law enforcement. Garcia provided details that were consistent with evidence found at the scene. Garcia was charged with capital murder since he killed Castillo during a kidnapping and robbery, according to court records. Court documents back in 2019 stated prosecutors wanted to seek the death penalty.
In a packed courtroom, multiple friends and family members spoke of Castillo’s love. Castillo’s loved ones remembered her as a kind-hearted person. She was described as a sweet, beautiful soul who left her loved ones with only great memories. Castillo’s grandmother, Marina Gonzales, remembers that kindness. Gonzales said on a very cold day, Castillo came home without any shoes or socks on. It turned out, Castillo had given them to an elderly woman in the park, who had no socks, and holes in her shoes. Gonzales said that’s who Castillo was. Her mother, Christina Pauda, said her hugs wrapped around your soul. Castillo’s compassion was ministry, and she loved everyone.
“A reflection of God’s love walking on this earth,” Pauda said. “And that light was stolen.”
Instead of a college degree, Pauda said there is a tombstone bearing her daughter’s name. Castillo’s birthday is now celebrated at a cemetery. In her impact statement, Pauda said there was also pain caused by officials. Pauda said the District Attorney initially pushed her to pursue the death penalty. For eight years, Pauda said she stayed silent, believing justice was in the works.
“Eight years trusting promises that were nothing more than dust,” Pauda said. “Then suddenly without care, without respect, without a single ounce of compassion they took it all away with a phone call.”
Pauda quoted a Bible verse, “”Let your ‘Yes” be yes, and your ‘No” be no.” Matthew 5:37. Pauda said officials said yes for years, only to turn around and say no when it mattered the most.
Jordan’s family in court said he was shot in the head and executed “without mercy” at the Stripes Gas Station. When Jordan took his last breath, his family said their world collapsed. Jordan was strengthening his commitment to God and his family before his life was taken. Jordan was a pillar of his family, and his community believed in him. Jordan’s loved ones said his death was an earthquake that shattered every foundation their family once stood on.
The statement from Jordan’s family said each time a hearing was moved during the process, it reopened the wound. The statement described waiting for eight years without having closure or justice. They described being trapped in a cycle of grief as justice was repeatedly postponed.
“Delayed justice is its own kind of violence, Your Honor,” the Jordan family’s statement said. “Our family has lived with that violence for nearly a decade.”
Years of delays
EverythingLubbock.com in July asked officials with the District Attorney’s Office for a statement regarding why the case was delayed from going to trial. We were initially told there was a gag order on the case at the time, and that the DA’s Office could not comment on pending cases. EverythingLubbock.com was later provided with a new gag order, signed by the judge. At the time, a trial was confirmed to be set for November 17. However, the case did not go to trial on November 17. Instead, public records showed evidentiary hearings were scheduled for Garcia.
Judge McClendon on Tuesday morning said both parties had reached an agreement for a plea. Concerning the delays in the case, McClendon expressed his own frustration. He said there were uncontrollable delays, including COVID and legal necessities in appointing new counsel. District Attorney Sunshine Stanek did not address Pauda’s statements.
Xavier Garcia gets two life sentences in prison for Lubbock murders
