HOUSTON, TEXAS — A tragic story unfolded as a 32-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend, a devoted mother of four, just a month after their breakup.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office shared on December 18 that a jury found Daniel Chacon guilty of capital murder for taking the life of 38-year-old Maira Gutierrez. His punishment? Life behind bars with no chance of parole.
This heartbreaking case began with Chacon having temporary custody of the couple’s 6-month-old baby. The child lived with Chacon and his new girlfriend, who was pregnant and already had an older child with him. Gutierrez, wanting to see her baby, would often visit Chacon’s apartment while he was at work, typically around 9 in the morning.
On October 3, 2022, Gutierrez stopped by to see her baby as usual. But this time, Chacon called her and demanded she leave immediately. Gutierrez returned to her car in the apartment complex parking lot, but Chacon was already there, hiding in the backseat with a gun.
Witnesses later recalled hearing Gutierrez scream for help as Chacon chased her. He reportedly forced her into the backseat of her car, using the gun to threaten her. Then, he jumped into the driver’s seat and sped away. Alarmed neighbors called the police, who quickly tracked Gutierrez’s phone about 13 miles away from the apartment complex. Officers arrived to a devastating scene—Gutierrez was found in her car, shot in the head. She didn’t survive.
After the horrific crime, Chacon fled to Mexico but eventually turned himself in to authorities.
Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Dupont explained that Chacon’s actions were all about control. “He manipulated the system, lied, and played games with Maira over custody of their child,” she said. “We believe he killed her because he was losing that power as she worked to do everything right.”
Her colleague, Assistant District Attorney Mary McFaden, highlighted Chacon’s troubling history of violence against women. “It escalated until it ended in Maira’s murder,” she shared.
This heartbreaking story is a sobering reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of protecting those at risk. Maira Gutierrez’s memory lives on as a beloved mother who cared deeply for her children.
