A Colorado woman has been found guilty of murdering her boyfriend’s two young children and hiding their bodies in disturbing ways for nearly six years. Corena Minjarez, 37, of Pueblo County, was convicted this week of two counts of first-degree murder of a victim under 12 by a person in a position of trust and two counts of abuse of a corpse.
Prosecutors say Minjarez killed 5-year-old Jesus Dominguez Jr. and 3-year-old Yesenia Dominguez in 2018 with the help of her boyfriend, Jesus Dominguez, before concealing their bodies in horrific conditions—Yesenia in a container filled with concrete and Jesus Jr. in the trunk of an abandoned car.
A Pattern of Abuse and Neglect
According to testimony, Minjarez often abused the children while struggling with drug addiction. Witnesses described disturbing punishments, including forcing the children to sit in trash bags inside her car to prevent accidents. Dominguez testified that Minjarez even sprayed his son with a high-pressure nozzle at a car wash, injuring him.
On March 14, 2018, Yesenia allegedly stopped breathing while forced to sit on the car floor in a trash bag. Instead of seeking medical help, Minjarez and Dominguez hid her body inside a tote, then later a suitcase in the trunk of Minjarez’s car. Weeks later, in April 2018, Jesus Jr. also stopped breathing while riding with them. His lips turned purple, but again the couple refused to seek medical care. His body was eventually placed in a suitcase, wrapped in trash bags, and hidden.
Bodies Hidden for Years
The children’s remains were concealed for nearly six years. Prosecutors said Minjarez and Dominguez first stored Yesenia’s body in a storage unit before encasing it in concrete. Jesus Jr.’s remains were hidden in the trunk of a Pontiac, which was later abandoned at a scrapyard.
The case came to light in January 2024, when Minjarez’s mother discovered a suspicious metal container while clearing out her daughter’s storage unit. Detectives found Yesenia’s decomposed remains inside. Jesus Jr.’s body was located weeks later.
Father’s Plea Deal and Testimony
Jesus Dominguez, the children’s father, took a plea deal in July 2024, admitting to second-degree murder. He testified against Minjarez, telling jurors about their drug use, her violent punishments, and the couple’s refusal to take the children to a hospital despite obvious signs of abuse.
Life Sentence Without Parole
Prosecutors argued that Minjarez was the driving force behind the children’s deaths and the effort to conceal them. After deliberating for more than a day, a jury unanimously found her guilty on all charges.
She was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Chief Trial Deputy Kyle McCarthy and Senior Deputy District Attorney David Dingess said in a statement:
“Despite the defense’s claims that the co-defendant acted alone, the evidence clearly demonstrated that Minjarez was responsible for the death of these two children and responsible for hiding the bodies under horrific conditions.”
A Tragic End to a Long Investigation
The children’s deaths, hidden for years, shocked the Pueblo community and highlighted the devastating effects of drug abuse, domestic turmoil, and unchecked child abuse. Family members of Minjarez told investigators they had long been concerned about how she treated the children.
The conviction brings some closure to the case, but the haunting details of how Jesus Jr. and Yesenia were treated and discarded will remain a grim reminder of the need for vigilance in protecting vulnerable children.
