A San Antonio man has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for brutally beating his girlfriend’s brother to death in an act of revenge tied to a previous arrest. According to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, 40-year-old Robert Carrasco Jr. received the sentence on Monday from Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl in the 175th District Court.
He was convicted for the April 2024 killing of 38-year-old Jason Banda. Prosecutors said the fatal encounter stemmed from a long and violent history between Carrasco and Banda. The conflict began in February 2022 when Carrasco assaulted his girlfriend, who was Banda’s sister. He later pleaded guilty and was placed on probation for the offense.
Several months later, in September 2022, Banda alerted authorities to Carrasco’s location after he violated the terms of his probation. Carrasco was subsequently re-arrested for the same assault. Court records show Carrasco was released on bond in March 2024. Just a month later, he confronted Banda, accusing him of being responsible for his earlier arrest, as per the San Antonio Express-News reported.
During that confrontation, prosecutors said Carrasco viciously beat Banda to death in front of his sister. Initially, Banda’s sister told investigators that her brother had been attacked by unknown assailants. However, she later admitted that Carrasco was the one who killed him, revealing that the incident took place in her presence.
The full extent of the crime emerged when Carrasco’s own mother informed police that her son had video-called her and his child during the assault. Investigators returned to the scene after receiving this information, and the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted additional forensic testing that confirmed the details of the murder.
Prosecutors described the killing as a deliberate act of retaliation and a chilling example of domestic violence turning deadly. “No act of retaliation can ever justify the loss of a life,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in a statement following the sentencing. “Our office is dedicated to pursuing justice for victims and preventing this kind of violence from taking root in our community.”
Carrasco’s conviction and lengthy prison sentence bring an end to a case that exposed the devastating consequences of domestic violence and revenge. Prosecutors emphasized that while justice has been served, the tragedy has left deep scars for the victim’s family, who witnessed a horrific act of violence that could never be undone.