A jealous rage fueled by a complicated love triangle landed a Texas woman in prison for life after she fatally stabbed a young tourist. Lisa Dykes, 60, was convicted of murder and tampering with evidence in the 2020 death of 23-year-old Marisela Botello-Valadez, who had come to Dallas for a fun weekend visit.
Botello-Valadez, visiting from Seattle, disappeared after a night out in Dallas' Deep Ellum district. Prosecutors painted a picture of a tangled web of relationships, alleging Dykes was in a "three-way" relationship with Botello-Valadez's boyfriend, Charles Beltran, and Dykes' own wife, Nina Marano.
Jealousy boiled over when Dykes stumbled upon Botello-Valadez and Beltran together in bed, leading to the horrific stabbing. Dykes then allegedly tried to cover her tracks by disposing of the body, which wasn't discovered until months later.
The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of Dykes, Marano, and Beltran. While Marano and Beltran testified against Dykes in exchange for plea deals, Dykes maintains her innocence, claiming her business partner Beltran was the sole culprit.
Despite Dykes' appeal, the jury saw through her story, sending her away for life. Botello-Valadez's family, though devastated by the tragedy, expressed hope for moving forward while seeking justice for their beloved daughter.
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