Austin resident Kamery Wooldridge, 32, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to tampering with evidence in a 2024 homicide case. According to CBS Austin, Wooldridge admitted to tampering or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair a human corpse related to the death of Cristian Rangel, 24, who was reported missing in April 2024 and later found deceased.
Following her plea on October 8, Wooldridge received her sentence this Monday, as stated in court records from Travis County. During the legal proceedings, an allocution took place where Rangel's family addressed the defendant. Rangel's body, discovered in a greenbelt at 5800 Spring Meadow Road, was found with injuries consistent with an assault, police reported. In addition to her prison sentence, Wooldridge was also ordered to pay $360 in fees and costs.
In the wake of the incident, Rangel's family has been outspoken about their loss. "When a piece of you is missing, it's hard to describe the emptiness that you feel," Rangel's mother, Misty Moon, told KXAN in February. She described her late son as someone who "was loved by many" and "struggled with some things, so he was very empathetic."
The case garnered additional attention as Rangel went missing on the day of historical 2024 eclipse, with his body being found 11 days later near a southeast Austin neighborhood. Austin Police Department (APD) has stated that the condition of Rangel's body made it difficult for forensic evidence to be gathered, complicating the investigation. Still, the case continues to be an open investigation, with APD expressing a commitment to uncovering the full truth for Rangel and his family. They have also offered their support to Rangel's loved ones during this challenging period, as per a statement obtained by KXAN.
The plea deal comes after Rangel's family had put up a $9,000 reward in September in hopes of encouraging more information that could lead to murder charges in connection with his death.
