Texas man who murdered pregnant ex-girlfriend, hid her body in a freezer receives 2 life sentences

SAN ANGELO, Texas — A San Angelo, Texas, man was sentenced Wednesday to two life sentences for the October murders of his ex-girlfriend, 23-year-old Selena Ann Bradley, and their unborn son, Xavier.

San Angelo authorities found Bradley’s body wrapped in a blue tarp and hidden in a kitchen freezer at William James Hernandez’s home, three days after she was last seen alive.

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According to the San Angelo Standard-Times, about 20 people attended Hernandez’s Wednesday plea hearing, including Bradley’s family and a child who had been sexually assaulted by the defendant years earlier.

In addition to the life sentences, Hernandez, 39, was also sentenced to 20 years in prison on a tampering with evidence charge and 25 years in prison for four charges involving crimes against a child, KLST reported.

Hernandez, also known as William Martinez, admitted at the time of his arrest that he had “done something bad and would go to prison for life,” according to documents obtained by the TV station.

In addition to the prison time, which District Court Judge Carmen Dusek ordered to be served concurrently, Hernandez must also register as a sex offender and pay $13,385 in restitution, the Standard-Times reported.

Bradley’s mother, Christie Skelton, delivered the family’s victim impact statement during the hearing, invoking the impact the tragedy has had on Bradley’s 3-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, the newspaper reported.

“They will never see their mommy again,” Skelton stated in court. “We know we’ll have to relive this as they grow older and ask questions. The pain does not end today, but today, the healing may begin.”

Cox Media Group