Gilbert Escobedo Gets Life Sentence For Nephew's Murder

It took a Lubbock jury just over an hour to find Gilbert Escobedo guilty of killing his 22-month-old nephew, Modesto Blanco.

Escobedo's conviction carries an automatic life sentence. Escobedo admitted to injuring Modesto, but insists the death was an accident. The District Attorney's Office believes the verdict was the correct one.

"It was a difficult case, difficult for a jury to watch, difficult for a jury to look through the evidence, but the verdict was as it should be with the evidence," said Jennifer Bassett, Assistant District Attorney.

Escobedo will not be eligible for parole until after 40 years.