Rivas found guilty of capital murder, sentenced to life without parole

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — A Randall County jury found Erik Rivas guilty of killing Shereena Byington (Webster) in her home in Amarillo in 2022.

Since the state was not seeking the death penalty, Rivas was automatically sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.

District Attorney Robert Love said he was pleased with the verdict.

Byington's family also expressed their satisfaction with the outcome.

In closing arguments on Monday, the State stressed the physical evidence found at the crime scene.

They pointed out that data from the home security system shows Rivas broke in through the back door at about 4:45 a.m.

The prosecutor noted that the victim suffered eight gunshot wounds and three lacerations to the back of her head while attempting to dispute Rivas' claim that the gun accidentally went off.

Rivas' attorney pointed to conversations between Rivas and Byington to show that their relationship was not over.

The defense also claimed that Rivas was concerned about the contact she had made with a man in Colorado and wanted to protect her.

The State said that he made 32 phone calls to her in six hours the night before the murder, along with a threatening text.

The prosecutor told the jury the killing was a monstrous act.

The jury deliberated for two and a half hours before delivering the guilty verdict.

Police said Rivas broke into Byington's Amarillo home on Aug. 18, 2022, shot her multiple times, and then left town.

He was arrested near Dallas the next day.

Byington’s 5-year-old daughter found the body and called her grandmother for help.

Rivas was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.