Death Row Bid Targets Porter Mom Accused Of Killing Her Kids

Brazoria County prosecutors are now trying to put a Porter mother on death row, filing notice Thursday that they will seek the death penalty against 31-year-old Oninda Romelus, who is accused of shooting her four children last October. Romelus is charged with capital murder and aggravated assault in the Oct. 4, 2025 attack that left a 13-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl dead and two other children hospitalized, court records show. The move marks a steep escalation in a case that drew national attention when it first surfaced.

Prosecutors File Notice Seeking Death Penalty

According to a court document obtained by Click2Houston, Brazoria County prosecutors told the court they will pursue capital punishment and laid out aggravating factors they say support that decision. The filing states the state intends to prove, among other things, that Romelus would pose a continuing threat to society if allowed to live. The notice does not set a trial date, and prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Scene In October And The Charges

Investigators say Romelus called 911 after pulling into a gas station at FM 521 and Highway 288 in Angleton, where deputies found her four children suffering from gunshot wounds, two of them dead at the scene. As reported by ABC13, the two surviving children, an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, were flown to a Houston hospital and later stabilized. A Brazoria County grand jury subsequently indicted Romelus on counts of capital murder and aggravated assault.

Disturbing Allegations From Court Records

Court records reviewed by People and local outlets describe a grim series of statements Romelus allegedly made after the shooting. The documents say she first told investigators she “couldn’t talk about it,” later adding, “Instead of them doing it, I'm gonna do it to them.” When asked to explain what she meant, the records say she answered, “Kill them all.” Prosecutors now point to those quoted remarks as key support for their argument that the case meets capital sentencing standards.

Search Warrants Turn Up Fraud Evidence

Search warrants executed at Romelus' Porter home reportedly turned up dozens of Social Security cards, identification cards, credit cards and electronics that investigators allege were used to create fraudulent documents, according to reporting by Click2Houston. Detectives noted that some identification cards appeared to show Romelus’ photo paired with other names, and they seized printers, shipping labels and devices they say were consistent with document fabrication. Authorities have said those discoveries are part of a broader investigation, although they have not publicly linked the alleged identity fraud to the shooting itself.

What The Law Allows

Under Texas law, capital murder is the only offense that can carry a death sentence, and it applies when specific aggravating factors are present, including multiple victims in a single criminal transaction. As outlined in the Texas Penal Code §19.03, a defendant convicted of capital murder faces either execution or life in prison without the possibility of parole. If prosecutors secure a death penalty verdict, the case moves into a separate punishment phase in which the jury weighs aggravating and mitigating evidence before deciding the sentence.

Hoodline's Earlier Coverage And Next Steps

Hoodline previously detailed the initial charges and search warrant findings in October, including reports of ammo, fraudulent docs and eerie pre-dawn shots tied to the case. With the new death penalty notice now on file, prosecutors must follow capital case procedures, while the defense can seek expanded juror questionnaires, access to grand jury testimony and other pretrial relief. Capital murder cases in Texas are notorious for moving slowly through the courts, and any scheduling decisions or additional filings will be handled in Brazoria County District Court.