PRIMERA, TX – A South Texas man was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison for fatally stabbing his mother and attempting to kill his father during a violent outburst last spring, according to court records.
Dallas Scott Gilbert, 20, received his sentence from Cameron County District Judge Juan A. Magallanes after he pleaded guilty to murder. The plea deal led prosecutors to dismiss additional charges of attempted capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Gilbert was 18 years old when the attack occurred at the family’s home in the 2100 block of Stuart Place Road, just outside Harlingen and about 30 minutes from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Events unfolded late in the morning on April 19, 2023, when Gilbert turned on his parents in what authorities described as a fit of “sudden rage.” Investigators say a minor family dispute earlier that day, centered around a comment about his fitness to throw a football, set events in motion. According to law enforcement accounts detailed in court records, Gilbert later entered the kitchen, picked up a knife, and initially cut his mother’s hand—at first claiming it was an accident.
However, the situation escalated quickly. Gilbert told officials that he suddenly lost control and began stabbing his mother, Angela Watt Gilbert, 47, multiple times. The commotion woke his father, who arrived to find his wife under attack. Gilbert then reportedly turned on his father, stabbing him as well.
Despite serious injuries, Gilbert’s father managed to subdue his son and call 911. First responders arrived at the scene and rushed Angela Gilbert to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead from multiple stab wounds. Police said the mother suffered between six and eight stab wounds and had defensive injuries on her hands, indicating she attempted to fend off the attack.
Authorities noted that a full confession was given following the incident. According to statements made to investigators, Gilbert described the episode as a moment of uncontrollable rage, expressing remorse but offering little explanation for his actions.
The Primera Police Department led the investigation, drawing on interviews, physical evidence from the home, and Gilbert’s own admissions. The tragic case shook the quiet residential neighborhood, with neighbors expressing disbelief that violence of this magnitude had unfolded on their street.
Court records showed that the plea agreement helped avoid a lengthy trial, although the facts of the attack and its aftermath were recited in detail during the sentencing. Angela Gilbert was remembered as a loving mother and wife during court proceedings, while her husband’s survival was attributed to his quick response and ability to overpower his son.
Gilbert has since been transferred to state custody, where he will begin serving his two-decade sentence for the violent crime.