Bio

Gilberto Guadalupe Reyes was born on September 19, 1973, in Bailey County, Texas. He grew up in a rural area near the Texas-New Mexico border. He later became a member of a group known as the 8th Street Posse, which appears to have been linked to gang activity.

During his youth, Reyes faced challenges that would shape his life. He had a difficult relationship with his family, especially with his mother, who was reported to have neglected her children. This neglect likely influenced his later behaviors and choices. Reyes did not receive a lot of formal education, as it was reported that he completed only about 11 years of schooling.

As an adult, Reyes worked as a laborer. His life took a troubled turn when he started dating a young woman named Yvette Barraz. Their relationship lasted about eight months before it ended in January 1998. Following the breakup, Reyes exhibited obsessive and violent behavior towards Barraz. He was known to have stalked her and had been involved in several incidents that escalated in severity.

In February 1998, just a month before Barraz's murder, Reyes was arrested for chasing her and her family with a rifle, leading to charges of aggravated assault. He was released on bail but continued to stalk her. On February 26, 1998, Yvette went to the local police station to report the ongoing harassment. She described incidents involving stolen property and frightening encounters with Reyes.

The relationship's volatility suggests that Reyes had significant emotional issues, which may have stemmed from his childhood. He was known to have battled substance abuse and other personal struggles, which likely contributed to his aggressive tendencies. The culmination of these factors would later lead to tragic outcomes in his life.

In the years prior to his eventual arrest, Reyes had multiple run-ins with law enforcement, building a record of violent behavior and aggression, setting the stage for a dramatic and horrific turn of events in March 1998.

Murder Story

On March 11, 1998, 19-year-old Yvette Barraz left her parents' house to go to work at Leal's Restaurant in Muleshoe, Texas. She did not return home that night. Her parents reported her missing the next morning after realizing she had not come back. Authorities found blood and loose change in the parking lot of the restaurant but did not find her vehicle.

Gilberto Reyes, Barraz's ex-boyfriend, was seen crossing into Mexico the next day. He was stopped by border police, who questioned him but allowed him to go after a background check. Two days later, Barraz's body was discovered in the hatchback of her car, which was parked behind a store in Presidio, Texas. She had multiple head wounds and evidence of strangulation. A knife and a claw hammer were found in her car, and her pants and underwear were pulled down to her knees.

After an investigation, Reyes was arrested on June 7, 1998, in Portales, New Mexico, about three months after Barraz was killed. During his arrest, he had keys that matched Barraz's car and residence. DNA evidence linked him to the crime. At his trial, witnesses testified about Reyes's stormy relationship with Barraz, noting that she had reported him for stalking her before she disappeared.

Reyes was convicted of capital murder in January 2000 and sentenced to death. His appeals were denied, including by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. He was executed by lethal injection on June 21, 2007. His final meal request included BBQ turkey and brisket, along with a bowl of cheddar cheese and avocados. Before his execution, he stated, "I love y'all and I'm going to miss y'all," but he did not look at Barraz's family present at the execution.