Final Diary Entry of Texas Mom Reveals She Did Not Die by Suicide; Her Husband Murdered Her

A new investigation has provided new evidence surrounding Joel Pellot for the murder of his wife, 31-year-old Texas mother Maria Muñoz, who was found dead in her home under circumstances initially believed to be a suicide.

Pellot was incriminated by Muñoz’s final diary entry and by postmortem toxicology reports, leading to a life sentence for the convicted murderer last March, according to a new report by CBS.

On September 22, 2020, Pellot, a nurse anesthetist, called 911 to report his wife as unresponsive, suggesting she might have overdosed on prescription pills. He described her as “super depressed.” This incident and the subsequent investigation were detailed in a CBS “48 Hours” profile.

Upon arrival, Laredo Police found Pellot performing chest compressions on Muñoz, while their sons slept in the next room. Investigators noted Pellot’s nervous demeanor, excessive sweating and difficulty answering simple questions. A syringe wrapper and needle catheter were found on the scene. Pellot retrieved a bottle of clonazepam prescribed in his name, which he pocketed when police took over resuscitation efforts. This behavior was unusual, as overdose victims are typically found with the pill bottle beside them.

Muñoz and Pellot met in Puerto Rico where she was studying nursing and he was a medical student. They married in 2011, and Muñoz gave up her career to raise their children. During Pellot’s interrogation at Laredo Police Department, his erratic behavior, including crying, screaming and pushing furniture, raised suspicions. He admitted the syringes were his but denied involvement in his wife’s death. He claimed to be living with another woman and had visited Muñoz to discuss their failing marriage.

The medical examiner found no pill residue in Muñoz’s stomach but noticed a puncture mark on her right elbow crease. She died of mixed drug intoxication, but friends doubted it was self-inflicted. Pellot’s boss, Dr. John Huntsinger, called a detective to suggest a full toxicology screening. The results showed no clonazepam but a fatal combination of drugs typically used in surgery, accessible to Pellot.

Muñoz’s diary entry a day before her death expressed a desire for “new beginnings,” contradicting the notion of a despondent individual. Prosecutors argued she accepted her husband’s decision to be with someone else and sought a better future. Days before her death, Muñoz discovered Pellot’s affair and confronted him and his mistress, Janet Arredondo. She texted Pellot about hiring a lawyer after he punched a hole in her windshield.

Prosecutors believed Pellot sedated Muñoz with drugs in a drink before injecting propofol into her arm, delaying the 911 call to ensure she couldn’t be resuscitated.

After a nine-day trial, Pellot was found guilty of murder on March 30, 2023, and sentenced to life in prison. He is incarcerated at the W.F. Ramsey Unit in Brazoria County and will be eligible for parole in March 2053 at 75 years old.

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