2020-01-29

JUDE SAMORA SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON ON MURDER CHARGES

On Wednesday, January 29, 2020, the Randall County District Attorney’s Office obtained convictions for Murder and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon against Jude Edward Samora when he entered guilty pleas to both offenses in the 181st District Court in Canyon. Mr. Samora was sentenced to life in prison for the Murder conviction and 20 years in prison for the Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon conviction. These sentences are the maximum allowed for each offense. Texas law requires these sentences to be served concurrently. Mr. Samora will not be eligible for parole until he has completed 30 years of his life sentence.

These convictions stem from a September 13, 2018 event in which Mr. Samora brutally stabbed his wife, Julianne Samora, multiple times causing her death at the scene. He also stabbed his wife’s friend, Jeremy Delara resulting in serious injuries. Mr. Samora was arrested in the early morning hours of September 14th in Clayton, New Mexico as he attempted to flee the state. During the course of the investigation, the Amarillo Police Department was able to link Mr. Samora to the crimes through eyewitnesses as well as DNA and blood evidence found in the vehicle in which the defendant attempted to flee the state.

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In two separate hearings, concluding on February 6, 2020, the parents of Julianne Samora and Jeremy Delara, the surviving victim of this crime, gave victim impact statements to the Court.

Delara spoke not only about the loss of his dear friend, but of the physical and emotional pain he has and continues to suffer as a result of being stabbed repeatedly. Delara suffered a punctured lung and irreparable damage to his arm. As a result of his injuries, Jeremy, an aspiring musician, almost lost his ability to play guitar, but after multiple surgeries and physical therapy has regained that ability.

Julianne's mother spoke about not letting Julie's death define her. She remembered Julie for leading a life of humility, kindness and humor. She called Julie her champion and her best friend. She also spoke about the devastating effect Julie's murder has had on her entire family but that somehow she would continue to love others and raise her other children with the love and faith in God that she raised Juile with.

We appreciate these brave people for being willing to speak to their loss and for reminding us about the spirit of perseverance and triumph over adversity. Too often criminal cases focus on the defendant. We hope this post will refocus our attention on the victim and the survivors.