AMARILLO, TX – A father from Oklahoma has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after admitting to shooting and killing his girlfriend outside a Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Amarillo, then fleeing with his young daughters in the car.
Mario Alberto Rodriquez, 33, entered a guilty plea on Monday, avoiding a scheduled trial for the 2022 murder of 23-year-old Marisela Mendoza. Authorities said the couple, both from Oklahoma, arrived separately at the Amarillo eatery on April 30, 2022. What began as an argument in the parking lot quickly escalated into violence when Rodriquez drew a handgun and opened fire on Mendoza.
Responding emergency crews found Mendoza with critical gunshot wounds. She was rushed to a hospital but did not survive.
After the shooting, Rodriquez left the scene with his two daughters, ages 5 and 8, sparking a regionwide manhunt. Police initiated an Amber Alert, fearing for the safety of the children. Law enforcement agencies quickly identified Rodriquez as the suspect and located him later that day in Hereford, Texas, a town southwest of Amarillo.
Once apprehended, Rodriquez was taken into custody without further incident. Officials confirmed both children were unharmed and were reunited with family members shortly after Rodriquez’s arrest.
The case extended across state lines after Rodriquez, who remained behind bars in Texas, was briefly transferred to Texas County, Oklahoma, in February 2023. There, he faced unrelated charges of child neglect and domestic abuse, which were later dismissed before he was sent back to Texas.
A Potter County grand jury indicted Rodriquez on a murder charge in July 2022. Prosecutors said he was initially scheduled to stand trial in early 2026, but instead opted to plead guilty in exchange for the lengthy prison sentence.
According to court documents, Rodriquez is not eligible for parole due to the terms of his plea, which require him to serve the full 60-year sentence. Authorities said the plea agreement spares Mendoza’s family from a drawn-out trial.
Amarillo police credited swift coordination between agencies for the safe recovery of Rodriquez’s daughters and the swift resolution of the case. The children are now living with relatives in Oklahoma.
With Rodriquez’s sentencing finalized, officials say the criminal proceedings have concluded and the community can begin to move forward.