Testimony begins in murder trial of man accused of killing Pleasant Grove woman

Image 1 of 4

A jury heard testimony on Wednesday during the trial of a man accused of killing the mother of his children.

Marisol Espinosa's body was found dumped under the I-20 Dowdy Ferry Bridge in Pleasant Grove several months after she was reported missing in December of 2015.

Faustino Valdez stood emotionless as his lawyer entered a not guilty plea for the murder of 33-year-old Marisol Espinosa.

In opening statements prosecutor, Justin Lord told the two jury that Valdez murdered Espinoza on or about the December 29, 2015. He then later disposed of her body and SUV before he fled to Mexico, leaving behind their two young children. But the defense argues Espinosa’s death was not intentional.

“She died tragically during an argument. The family doesn’t want to believe that,” said Phillip Linder, Valdez’s attorney. “I think the evidence is going to show that. Nobody else was in the house when this happened. Even the medical examiner can’t tell you how she died.”

Espinosa’s body was found ten weeks after she was reported missing. The woman who made the discovery testified she initially thought it was a discarded Halloween costume under the I-20 Dowdy Ferry Bridge.

Later, Espinosa’s best friend, Rosy Benevidez, testified that Valdez and Espinosa had an “on and off relationship for six years.” She told jurors in 2014 that Espinosa moved in with her mother because Valdez “was talking and texting with other women.”

The Dallas police officer who was called to do a welfare check on Espinosa the day she disappeared also testified. He described questioning Valdez, who told him she was probably “running around with another one of her boyfriends.” The officer told jurors that reaction was very strange.”

Prosecutors showed video of Espinosa’s SUV abandoned in a Pleasant Grove apartment complex the morning she disappeared.  Video shows Valdez walking out of the gated complex.

His attorney acknowledges Valdez disposed of Espinosa’s body and her SUV before fleeing to Mexico, but said “people make bad decisions when they’re scared.”

Valdez‘s attorney did not elaborate on what kind of accident happened to Espinosa but says it is possible Valdez will take the stand in his own defense.