Renteria’s Mother Testifies In His Resentencing Trial

By ABC-7 Reporater Darren Hunt

For the second consecutive day on Wednesday the defense continued to lay out its case in an attempt to spare the life of convicted child killer David Renteria.

Renteria, 38, had his original death sentence for abducting and strangling 5-year-old Alexandra Flores to death in 2001 thrown out on a technicality last year.

This new jury will decide whether he lives or dies.

Renteria had very little reaction to his mother and sister taking the stand Wednesday.

Eva Renteria, 68, hardly looked at her son, who was seated just eight feet away during her more than two-hour testimony. She broke down a couple of times while speaking of Renteria as a child, describing him as “a good boy” who “always obeyed.”

At one point she was asked what her son was like prior to being put on probation for an indecency with a child conviction in 1994.

“He was happy,” Eva Renteria said. “He would come home and greet us… ‘Hi mom, Hi dad!’ He would come home in a good mood,” she said. After a long pause, she said her son’s life changed drastically after being put on probation.

Renteria’s sister, Cecilia Esparza, also testifed that she saw a big change in her brother after his indecency with a child conviction.

Under cross examination by District Attorney Jaime Esparza, who is leading the prosecution’s case, Cecilia Esparza said her brother did not know the consequences of pleading guilty to a sex crime.

“He didn’t think what was going to happen afterwards,” Cecilia Esparza said. “In my honest truth, I don’t think he understood the consequences.”

Renteria’s resentencing hearing is scheduled to continue Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. In the 41st District Court.

ABC-7 will be in the courtroom and bring you updates throughout the day on KVIA.com and on ABC-7 News at Noon, 4,5,6, and 10.