Jody Hernandez gets life sentence after convicted of murder in cousin’s 2023 shooting

POST, Texas (KCBD) - A Garza County jury sentenced Jody Hernandez to life in prison after he was found guilty of murder.

Hernandez was sentenced in the 106th District Court.

In addition to his sentence, Hernandez must pay a $10,000 fine.

Wednesday, June 24

A man from Post was found guilty of murder after he shot his cousin in the face three years ago

Jody Hernandez will now await his sentencing with the punishment phase beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Jody Hernandez is accused of murdering Arthur Zapata Sr. in June 2023.

Multiple witnesses said the cousins were fishing together at a creek a few miles east of Southland when Zapata’s family went looking for him.

Zapata’s daughter testified that she found his body with a bullet wound to the face. She then called 911, where she told dispatch her Hernandez and her father had gotten into an argument before Hernandez shot him.

She told the jury before the two left to go fishing, she never saw or heard them argue. She said her father fished regularly at the creek.

Other witnesses testified they saw someone leaving the scene, believed to be Hernandez.

Investigators determined he had been shot with a 9mm gun.

If convicted for Zapata’s death, Hernandez could spend up to life in prison.