A Collin County jury convicted Karl Andrew Stanley, 55, of Celina of capital murder for killing his former girlfriend during a home invasion, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced Thursday, Oct. 15. Judge Richard Davis imposed an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Stanley killed the woman while burglarizing her home in the Mustang Lakes subdivision on Nov. 25, 2024, according to the DA's office. Prosecutors said he acted in retaliation for her reporting his stalking behavior to the Celina Police Department.
A carpenter working at the victim's home called Celina police that day. The caller reported that Stanley broke into the home armed with a car jack and began striking the victim, the DA's office said. The carpenter wrestled the car jack away, but Stanley followed the victim inside and strangled her with his hands. Officers found Stanley inside the home feet from the victim's body with her blood and hair on his hands.
Testimony at trial described prior stalking behavior. Detective Frank Alegre testified that the victim had reported Stanley's harassing and stalking behavior to Celina police beginning in early November 2024. Stanley had been criminally trespassed from the victim's home and was arrested by Celina police two days before the killing for violating that warning. Alegre testified he had obtained a stalking arrest warrant for Stanley just two hours before the murder.
Investigators also recovered a document titled "grudge list" from Stanley's vehicle. The victim's name was listed first, according to the DA's office. Detective Joseph Shires obtained search warrants for the home, Stanley's DNA and his vehicle. DNA analysis confirmed the victim's blood was on Stanley's hands.
Stanley pleaded not guilty. The jury deliberated less than an hour before returning a guilty verdict.
"This man killed a woman in her own home because she reported his stalking to police," Willis said in a statement. He added that Stanley will spend the rest of his life in prison while the victim's family lives every day with their loss.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cresta Garland and Alex Oestreich prosecuted the case.
Residents experiencing domestic violence can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
