Man found guilty of stabbing estranged wife 32 times at South Side home

A man who authorities say killed his estranged wife in 2024 was found guilty by a jury on Thursday.

James Mendoza faces up to life in prison for killing his wife, Stephanie Mendoza, at a home on the South Side. He will learn his punishment Friday morning.

On Aug. 13, 2024, officers responded to a home in the 100 block of Division Avenue after receiving word of a family violence incident. Stephanie Mendoza’s daughter had gone to the home and found her mother dead, according to the prosecution’s account.

During opening statements, prosecutors described a relationship in which Stephanie Mendoza had tried to leave but continued returning to help James Mendoza. Jurors heard testimony about the relationship and the events leading up to her death.

Prosecutors told jurors Stephanie Mendoza had been stabbed 32 times. James Mendoza was also found injured inside the home and received medical treatment, according to the prosecution’s opening statement.

Witnesses testify about couple’s relationship

Witnesses testified about incidents involving the couple before Stephanie Mendoza’s death.

“There was some occasions that James would be grabbing Stephanie by her arm,” her friend testified. “Just like pulling her to leave or just make her leave on several occasions.”

Prosecutors said James Mendoza continued trying to draw Stephanie Mendoza back into the relationship after she left, including by asking for help with food, medicine and other needs.

“Now after she left him, you’ll see that throughout this case the defendant kept trying to pull her back in, manipulating her, using his sickness, using giving him money for the dogs, for food, giving him medicine, using her property as leverage,” prosecutor Ashley Jones told jurors during opening statements.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, there is so much help for you. KSAT has a list of resources on its Domestic Violence webpage, which also explains how to identify different types of abuse.

Survivors in unincorporated Bexar County who are not in current emergencies can fill out an online form to get in touch with STAR specialists. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.

For wrap-around services, including the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, call Family Violence Prevention Services at (210) 733-8810.

You can also contact the Bexar County Family Justice Center, which also provides wrap-around services at (210) 631-0100.

More coverage of this story on KSAT:

• San Antonio murder trial examines alleged history of domestic violence
• Woman fatally stabbed inside South Side home; man in custody, police say
• ‘I told her to leave’: Neighbor’s warning to woman killed in apparent domestic violence case