A Collin County jury needed less than an hour to convict Karl Andrew Stanley of capital murder for killing his former girlfriend during a home invasion in Celina’s Mustang Lakes subdivision, and a judge handed down the only sentence the law allowed: life in prison without the possibility of parole. The verdict and sentence close out a case built on a chilling timeline — stalking reports, a trespass arrest, and a warrant for Stanley’s arrest that was issued just two hours before he killed her.
A Jury Moves Fast, a Judge Imposes the Mandatory Sentence
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that jurors convicted the 55-year-old Celina man of capital murder, a charge that under Texas law carries an automatic sentence of life imprisonment without parole, according to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. Judge Richard Davis imposed that mandatory sentence after the jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Stanley guilty, per the same announcement. Stanley had pleaded not guilty to the charge. Other outlets, including NBC 5, identified Stanley as 53 years old, a discrepancy from the DA’s office's listed age of 55.
A Carpenter’s 911 Call Interrupted the Attack
The killing happened on November 25, 2024, at the victim’s home in Mustang Lakes, where Stanley is accused of breaking in armed with a car jack and striking her with it before strangling her with his hands, the DA’s office said. Celina Police received the call that day from a carpenter working at the home, who reported that Stanley had broken in and attacked the victim, according to the same account. The caller wrestled the car jack away from Stanley during the struggle, the office said, and investigators later recovered the weapon outside the house.
When officers arrived, they found Stanley inside the home, just feet from the victim’s body, with her blood and hair on his hands, the DA’s office reported. Fox 4 News reported that subsequent DNA analysis confirmed the victim’s blood was on Stanley’s hands. Detective Joseph Shires later obtained search warrants covering the victim’s home, Stanley’s DNA, and his vehicle as the investigation moved forward, per the DA’s office.
Warnings Ignored Before the Killing
The case file shows a pattern of escalating alarm in the weeks before the murder. Beginning in early November 2024, the victim had reported Stanley’s harassing and stalking behavior to Celina police, the DA’s office said. Stanley had also been criminally trespassed from her home and was arrested by Celina police two days before the murder for violating that warning, according to the same source.
The final warning came almost too late. Detective Frank Alegre testified that he had obtained a stalking arrest warrant for Stanley just two hours before the killing, the DA’s office said. Willis said Stanley killed the victim because she had reported his stalking to police. Investigators also found a document titled “grudge list” inside Stanley’s vehicle, with the victim’s name listed first, according to the office’s account.
Prosecutors and the DA’s Statement
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cresta Garland and Alex Oestreich prosecuted the case, with Assistant District Attorney Edith Anthony, investigator Robin Laughon, and victim assistance coordinator Melissa White also assisting the prosecution, according to the DA’s office. Willis said Stanley will spend the rest of his life in prison while the victim’s family lives with their loss, a statement that closes out the office’s announcement of the verdict and sentence.
Anyone experiencing stalking or domestic violence can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.7233.
