Netflix series I Am A Killer Season 6 is currently streaming on the platform.
The series gives convicted killers an opportunity to share their crimes and life experiences.
Season 6, Episode 1: A Mother’s Choice Pt. 1
The focus of this episode was on inmate #02244431, Candie Dominguez.
At the start of the episode, we meet Candie’s daughter, Brenda Galvan. We learn that Candie has 6 children.
In 2014, Candie was 1 of 3 people charged in connection with the murder of her cousin Jose Menchaca (aka Peewee). She received a 30-year sentence.
The interview starts off with a very bubbly Candie, giggling or smirking if you will.
She talks about her childhood, how her dad was a drug addict, getting pregnant at a very young age, and her mother kicking her out.
According to Candie, she began sleeping on floors of different relatives. Her cousin Jose helped her through that difficult time.
Six months after the birth of her first daughter, she began a relationship with an older man.
They ended up being together for 22 years and she had five more children with the man. According to Candie, the man was abusive emotionally and verbally. In 2014, she left that relationship.
The Murder of Jose Menchaca
Shortly after she met Daniel Lopez.
Daniel was a major drug dealer and a member of the Texas Mexican Mafia. She introduced Daniel to her cousin Jose and soon after, Daniel began selling drugs to Jose.
According to Candie, when Daniel demanded payment on one incident, there was a fight between him and Jose. During the fight, Jose stabbed Daniel in the back. Daniel went to the hospital, but he felt Candie had set him up.
On Monday, September 29, 2014, Candie had her dad in the house and her children.
Daniel came to the house with his cousin, Gabriel Moreno, who was also a member of the Texas Mexican Mafia.
Candie alleges that Daniel told her she had to find her cousin, or he would harm her. She claims that she was coerced by Daniel to lure Jose to her house.
When they found Jose, he was with his girlfriend, Sylvia. Candie told Jose and Sylvia that she would sell them drugs if they came with her to her house. They agreed.
On getting there, Daniel and Gabriel were waiting. Daniel had a baseball bat while Jose was hiding in Candie’s room. Sylvia was held in a bathroom and Daniel proceeded to beat Jose for several hours until he became unconscious though he remained alive.
We are later led to understand that Jose was then carried to the back house, where Daniel killed him.
Candie discovered his body the next day but never reported the incident to the police.
The Investigation
Shortly after the incident, Police were called following reports of a strong smell in the area. We learn that Jose’s body was decapitated, and parts of his body burned in a barbecue that was on the property.
At first, Candie refused to talk. Other witnesses provided evidence that allowed the police to charge Daniel and Gabriel for the murder.
Police viewed Candie as a willing participant and charged her under Texas Law of Parties.
Six months after her arrest, Candie said she witnessed Daniel and Gabriel murder Jose and that she assisted them with disposing of his remains.
Because her story was needed, she was offered a deal to testify against Daniel and Gabriel, but she would still face a prison sentence.
During the course of the investigation, it came to light that this was not Daniel’s first crime. It turned out that he had killed his girlfriend, a woman named Domnique Hernandez and had burned her remains.
The Trial and Convictions
In June 2018, Daniel Lopez went on trial for the murder of Jose. Due to jurisdiction restrictions, he could only face charges for Jose. However, the court allowed for evidence of what happened to Dominque to be introduced.
On June 5, 2018, Daniel was found guilty of the murder of Jose. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Six months after Daniel’s conviction, Gabriel Moreno’s trial ended in a hung jury, leading to his acquittal.
On February 1, 2019, Candie was sentenced to the maximum allowed under her plea deal, which was 30 years in prison.
Season 6, Episode 1: A Mother’s Choice Pt. 2
Episode 2 continues with the case examined in Episode 1 except this time, it is told from the perspective of Daniel Lopez.
We learn that Candie after the murder continued to send weird love letters to Daniel claiming Bonnie and Clyde have nothing on them.
In his interview, Daniel stated that he met Candie through his cousin and that he only knew her for a short amount of time before the incident happened.
He stated that contrary to what she has been portrayed, he was not responsible.
He also claimed that Candie set him up. That she was writing him sweet letters up until his trial and showed up and testified against him.
He did admit to murdering other people but not Jose and Dominique.
Interview with Sylvia’s Mother
We then meet Jose’s girlfriend’s mother (Sylvia’s mother). She explains that this incident significantly affected Sylvia even till this day.
Sylvia was held hostage for 10 days at multiple locations.
We also learn that Sylvia told her mother that she begged Candie to loosen her restraints but Candie cursed her out.
Interview with Jose’s Mother
The next interview was with Yvonne Gilkey, Jose’s mom.
She talked about how Candie used to be her favorite niece and how she had reached out to see if she had any information when Jose was first missing.
She also talked about how she found out Jose was gone from Candie’s mother, her sister.
Yvonne described what she saw in court in 2017 when Candie was on trial. According to her Candie was sarcastic, happy, and proud of what she had done.
10-year-old Briana
We are then shown an interview with 10-year-old Briana, Candie’s daughter. Briana describes the screams she heard the night of the incident and how it sounded like Peewee.
Today
Finally, we are shown a more recent interview with Candie.
She talked about how she dismembered the body, mocked Daniel for not picking up the parts after the incident, all the while smiling.
She then ends by saying she does not regret what she did.
Candie Dominguez continues to serve her sentence at the William P. Hobby Unit, a women’s prison in Texas.
Daniel Lopez is incarcerated at the John B. Connally Unit, a maximum-security prison for men in Texas.
Have you watched this season of I Am a Killer? What are your thoughts on the episodes? Do you think Candie should have received the 30-year sentence?
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