Jessica Cortina was a 36-year-old elementary school teacher from San Benito, Texas, who was fatally shot five times on November 14, 2017. The shooting happened during a domestic disturbance and was witnessed by the couple’s four sons, aged 17 down to 4; the eldest son placed the 911 call after finding his mother bleeding from her chest. Her husband, 40-year-old Alvaro Mata Jr., was arrested hours later by the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office and initially faced a sentence of up to 99 years.

Mata said the shooting was accidental and followed an argument when he became enraged over not being allowed to look at Jessica’s phone. In January 2019 Mata pleaded guilty to first-degree murder; in March 2019 a judge sentenced him to 50 years in prison as part of a plea deal that avoided the children having to testify. The Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District provided counselors for students and staff following her death.

Does anyone who knew Jessica or her family have information that could shed more light on that night or its aftermath?