62-year-old man receives 3 life sentences in 1981 Brownwood cold case

Shelly Womack
·1 min read
29

BROWN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A man has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for the 1981 murder of Donna Mae Inlow.

62-year-old Pablo Figueroa pled guilty to capital murder, aggravated rape, and aggravated robbery for the 1981 murder of Donna Mae Inlow. He waived all rights to appeal his conviction as a part of the agreement and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences.

61-year-old man indicted for 1981 Brownwood cold case murder

<em>Courtesy of the Brown County Jail</em>
Courtesy of the Brown County Jail

His indictment in 2023 alleged that on April 27, 1981, Figueroa caused Inlow’s death by “stabbing or puncturing her chest with a knife or sharp object” while committing the offense of robbery, aggravated sexual assault, or burglary.

The murder occurred at her family-owned business (Inlow’s Shoe Store) in downtown Brownwood. The Department of Public Safety used modern DNA to match Figueroa’s DNA with the DNA left at the scene.

A press release from the District Attorney states that “Figueroa’s sentences on the three cases reflect the seriousness of the offense, and were structured to account for the different laws in effect in 1981.”

District Attorney Micheal Murray shared that prosecuting a case from more than 40 years prior had unique challenges. Attorneys Natalie Tise and Matthew Ottoway from the Attorney General’s Office assisted Murray and First Assistant District Attorney Elisha Bird in preparation for the trial. Murray added that achieving justice for this cold case was a ‘historic and a solemn moment for his office.’

Texas Ranger Jason Shea solved the cold case and located Figueroa, who was being held in federal custody for an unrelated crime.

Murray would like to thank all agencies who have worked on this case, including the Brownwood Police Department, the Texas Rangers, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, and employees from the District Attorney’s Office.

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