Seal
________________________________________________________________________





*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

April 23, 2025

www.texasattorneygeneral.gov




*PRESS OFFICE: (512) 463-2050*

[email protected]





 

* *

*Man Executed for Murdering Young Mother After Attorney General Ken Paxton Successfully Defended Death Sentence*

 

HUNTSVILLE – The State of Texas has executed a man who assaulted and murdered a young mother after Attorney General Ken Paxton successfully defended the application of the death sentence.

 

In 2004, Moises Sandoval Mendoza violently killed Rachelle O’Neil Tolleson, a 20-year-old mother of a young daughter. Mendoza confessed that he had taken Tolleson from her home before sexually assaulting, strangling, and stabbing her to death. Once police questioned Mendoza about Tolleson’s whereabouts, he burned and attempted to hide her body in a creek. Throughout Mendoza’s appeals, Attorney General Paxton has fought to uphold the sentencing and secure justice for the victim and her family.

 

“Tonight, the State of Texas upheld its duty and obligation to enforce justice and ensure that criminals receive the appropriate punishment,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Twenty years after Mendoza violently murdered Rachelle Tolleson, robbing her five-month-old daughter of her mother, Texas has executed him. I will always do everything in my power to defend the law and hold criminals accountable.”

 

The execution was carried out by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, Texas. Mendoza was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m.

 

   

###







Stay Connected with Office of Texas Attorney General on
Facebook [ [link removed] ] - X [ [link removed] ] - Instagram [ [link removed] ] - Email [ [link removed] ]

 Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].


________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of Texas Attorney General ·300 W. 15th Street · Austin, TX 78701 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]