William Rojas, 28, was handed down a life sentence for murder by a Hays County court on March 18. The announcement by Hays County District Attorney Kelly Higgins detailed Rojas's conviction by a jury earlier on January 23 for additional charges that included tampering with evidence—specifically a human corpse—and further tampering with evidence. Rojas will also serve 20 and 10 years, respectively, for these crimes in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
The trial brought to light that Rojas had fatally shot Esbin Santiago-Gomez, then proceeded to almost systematically remove any identifying markers from the victim's body before attempting to conceal it within Hays County. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving several law enforcement agencies, which included the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department, Houston Police Department, and the Texas Rangers. This depth of investigation allowed for Rojas to be definitively linked to the crime and to be successfully prosecuted.
Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Griffith and Courtney Hansen led the prosecution. "Mr. Rojas’ callousness in the murder and his actions following the murder were shocking to all those involved," Griffith mentioned in an interview, pointing out the egregious nature of the crime. The rigorous work by Hays County detectives was credited for bringing Rojas to justice. "Without the hard work and dedication of detectives with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Rojas would not have been brought to answer for his crimes," Griffith added, sharing condolences with Santiago-Gomez’s family.
DA Kelly Higgins expressed gratitude toward the thorough work conducted by the investigative and prosecuting teams. Higgins reinforced the appropriately heavy sentencing, deeming it "well-deserved" for the grave offenses committed by Rojas. The life sentence Rojas has received aims to serve as a closure for Santiago-Gomez's family and to affirm the court's stance on such brutal acts. As the community processes the outcome of the case, the sentence stands as a sobering reminder of the consequences of such violent actions.
