PLEASANTON, Texas – A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the double murder of a woman he was “obsessed” with and her roommate. Rosendo Jesus Montoya killed 33-year-old Mary Heinz and her 43-year-old roommate Laura West by shooting them last year in Texas.
The incident occurred on June 29, 2023, when authorities received a call about a fire at a home in Leming, Texas. Upon arrival, first responders discovered Laura West dead from a gunshot wound to the head. Mary Heinz, the other occupant of the house, was missing, sparking a mystery surrounding her whereabouts.
Investigators spent a week conducting interviews and gathering evidence, eventually identifying Montoya as the main suspect in Laura West’s murder. They learned that Montoya had previously worked with Heinz at McDonald’s and had developed an unhealthy obsession with her.
Montoya was arrested after surveillance footage showed him disposing of black plastic trash bags containing human remains in a dumpster. He then led investigators to a remote area where he had dumped Heinz’s body. Both victims had been fatally shot.
County District Attorney Audrey Louis revealed that Montoya may have briefly dated Mary Heinz before she ended the relationship, after which he became infatuated with her. According to Louis, Montoya stalked Heinz and planned to kill her. Laura West was tragically caught in the crossfire when she arrived home during the brutal act.
The district attorney described Montoya as a “monster” and highlighted the plea agreement as a means to protect others from his potential violence in the future.
Although the plea agreement cannot undo the horrifying murders or the lifelong pain inflicted upon the victims’ families, it spares them the anguish of a trial, said District Attorney Louis.
Rosendo Jesus Montoya’s sentencing ensures that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the possibility of parole, keeping him from causing further harm to the community. The families of Mary Heinz and Laura West will forever remember their loved ones as they rebuild their lives in the aftermath of this tragedy.