PUEBLO, CO – The trial of a Pueblo woman accused of killing her two young children and hiding their bodies for years began this week in Pueblo County District Court. Corena Minjarez, 37, faces charges of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in connection with the 2018 deaths of her son and daughter, whose remains were discovered in January and February 2024 after a lengthy period of concealment.
Authorities allege Minjarez and the children’s father, Jesus Dominguez, were responsible for the deaths of Jesus Dominguez Jr., 5, and Yesenia Dominguez, 3. The children’s bodies were reportedly hidden for nearly six years—one encased in concrete inside a storage unit and the other in a suitcase stored in the trunk of Minjarez’s vehicle. The investigation began after concerns raised by Minjarez’s family led police to the concealed remains.
According to court records, Dominguez agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for a reduced sentence and to provide testimony against Minjarez at trial. Prosecutors say the relationship between Minjarez and Dominguez had become volatile before the children’s deaths. During preliminary hearings, law enforcement officials described a hostile environment, noting escalating tensions and allegations that Minjarez’s frustrations were directed at the children.
Family members and acquaintances reportedly told detectives that Minjarez exhibited concerning behavior toward the children, with some relatives voicing fears for the youngsters’ safety. In one account shared with investigators, Minjarez was said to have locked her daughter in a room as punishment, prompting her teenage son to intervene and confront her about her harsh treatment.
Investigators also interviewed a friend of Minjarez, who claimed Minjarez had described the concealment of the children’s bodies. The friend alleged Minjarez said the children died accidentally and that she had hidden their remains herself.
Suspicion about the children’s whereabouts grew over several years, as Minjarez’s mother noted unusual odors and troubling signs around her daughter’s vehicle and storage unit. In January 2024, storage facility workers were preparing to clear out a unit rented by Minjarez and Dominguez following an eviction, prompting Minjarez’s mother to alert police.
On January 20, officers searched the Kings Storage facility at 617 W. Sixth Street and discovered a metal container encased in concrete. Inside were the remains of Yesenia Dominguez, according to police. Due to extensive decomposition, a medical examiner was unable to determine a precise cause of death, but ruled it a homicide.
Several weeks later, investigators found a suitcase in the trunk of Minjarez’s car at a local scrap yard. The body of Jesus Dominguez Jr. was identified inside, with autopsy results indicating he too had been a victim of homicidal violence. Neither child had ever been reported missing during the years they were concealed.
The trial is scheduled to run through late August. Jury selection began Monday, and Dominguez is expected to testify as part of his plea agreement. He is set to be sentenced in September. The case has cast a spotlight on issues of family violence and the prolonged disappearance of vulnerable children.
Authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the extended period during which the children went unaccounted for. A verdict in Minjarez’s trial is anticipated by the end of the month.