I Am A Killer Season 6 tells shocking true story behind Candie Dominguez

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Netflix has recently released Season 6 of “I Am a Killer,” featuring the initial episodes delving into the astonishingly disturbing case of Candie Dominguez and Jose Menchaca. The murders they are accused of were so heinous that it left investigators feeling apprehensive.

The streaming platform now houses several anthology series based on real-life crimes, including Ryan Murphy’s depictions titled “Monsters” and the original show “Worst Roommate Ever”, along with its latest adaptation, “Worst Ex Ever”.

I Am a Killer” is a popular documentary series that stands out due to its unique behind-the-bars access to individuals who have been convicted of murder. In each episode, these offenders share their thoughts about their crimes, providing an intimate look at their reflections. Additionally, the series includes testimonies from relatives and friends for a more comprehensive understanding.

In contrast to previous seasons, Season 6 presents a unique approach by expanding the initial case across two episodes instead of one. This strategy enables the writers to delve deeper into the surprising turn of events that unfolded during the investigation, though viewers should be cautioned as some content may be emotionally challenging.

Candie Dominguez and Jose Menchaca case explained

The first episode of Season 6 in “I Am a Killer,” titled ‘A Mother’s Choice Part 1,’ features a conversation with Candie Dominguez who is currently incarcerated. Her crime was aiding her boyfriend, Daniel Lopez, in the murder of her cousin, Jose Menchaca.

At first glance, Candie appears to be a victim in this situation. Born into hardship, she fled her home at just eight years old in 1987, eventually falling into the clutches of the Texas Mexican Mafia criminal group.

At age fifteen, Candie found herself pregnant with her first child, an experience she recounts in the true crime documentary. During this time, her cousin Jose was a source of support, ensuring she never went hungry.

Yet, the bond between them deteriorated when Candie got involved with Daniel, who was a drug dealer and a member of the Texas Mexican Mafia. This happened shortly following her escape from an abusive 22-year relationship with a man whom she bore five children.

She mentions that he seemed to be her sole source of reliance. In another context, Jose had been purchasing illicit substances from Daniel. However, on a particular occasion, Jose found himself short on funds, resulting in a violent confrontation – during which Jose ended up stabbing Daniel in the back.

Based on Candie’s account, this situation prompted Daniel to devise a plot for vengeance against Jose. However, she asserted that she did not wish to participate in the scheme, but felt compelled due to her boyfriend’s threat to harm her and her children if she didn’t obey.

On the 29th of September, 2014, according to Candie, she was at home with her children when Daniel arrived with his cousin and associate from the Texas Mexican Mafia, Gabriel Morendo. They were exhibiting unusual behavior, as she put it.

It’s claimed that she tricked Jose and his partner Sylvia into visiting her home under the pretense of selling drugs. However, upon their arrival, they were unexpectedly confronted by Daniel and Gabriel.

Sylvia found herself confined and held captive within a bathroom, all while Daniel resorted to violence against Jose using a metal baseball bat. Eventually, he took Jose’s life by applying fatal pressure on his neck.

Upon arriving at the premises, detectives were swiftly struck by the scent of decomposition and subsequently discovered Jose’s mortal remains concealed within a shed located in the yard at the rear.

In the beginning, both Candie and Daniel were questioned, but at first, Candie was reluctant to share information, stating fear for her kids’ safety. Later on, however, she ended up playing a crucial role in Daniel’s trial as a significant witness.

Daniel received a life imprisonment term, whereas Candie, for her part in the crime, was given the maximum penalty of 30 years behind bars.

In this case, you might find it surprising and cause you to ponder the reasoning behind her severe prison term, as Episode 2 of I Am a Killer’s sixth season offers a fresh viewpoint on the matter.

In 2015, Charles Bunk was brought in to represent Daniel during his trial for Jose’s murder. 

Following a thorough examination of numerous loving messages that Candie penned to Jose, he asserts in the latest documentary that they share equal responsibility. He also suggests that the entire situation originated from Candie’s manipulative behavior.

As she presents one of her letters to the camera, Charles recites her favorite expression: “ride or die,” followed by the words “bless Bonnie and Clyde.” He then adds, “It’s almost like she’s implying that Bonnie and Clyde were no match for us.

However, during the court case, Charles claims that Candie shifted the entire blame onto Daniel, leaving him as the sole accused. This perspective is supported by further testimonies presented in the documentary series.

Sylvia’s mom, Andreana, is voicing Sylvia’s sentiments as she found it too distressing to be on camera following the incident.

She asserts that Daniel is extremely harmful, but Candie was even more so. According to her, Candie boasted about her actions against her own cousin without a hint of remorse.

As Jose’s mom Yvonne Gilkey, I had high hopes when I asked my niece Candie for help finding my lost son. But then came a call from my sister Cynthia, Candie’s mom, shattering all those hopes – she told me that my precious nephew had been tragically taken by Candie herself.

Anthony Rodriguez, a detective with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, initially believed that Candie was forced to participate in the crime as a means of protecting her kids. However, his most enlightening discoveries came later on.

Through the course of the inquiry, it emerged that Candie had voluntarily taken part in the incident. In June 2016, Candie was moved to Bexar County District Attorney’s Office for interrogation, and when Anthony asked if she had been compelled to commit the crime, she stated emphatically, “No.

He exclaims, “She unexpectedly launched into a tale, leaving me utterly astonished.

In the interview excerpt, Candie recounts events following Jose’s murder, explaining that she urged Daniel to act due to the strong odor emanating from the corpse.

She reminisces with a smile, speaking of dissection as though it were a humorous tale. However, Anthony found himself taken aback, for he anticipated tears and apprehension, yet encountered someone who displayed no signs of regret instead.

Detectives left “scared” by gruesome murder

In the sixth season of “I Am a Killer,” both investigators who handled the crime scene and those who interrogated Candie recounted their astonishment at the case, with Anthony Rodriguez admitting that he was taken aback by her absence of emotional response, feeling fear instead.

In a gruesome sequence of events, it was shown in the Netflix documentary that Jose suffered a prolonged and violent assault at the hands of Daniel. This beating lasted for hours, culminating in Jose being strangled. Following this tragic incident, Candie proceeded to dismember Jose’s body, and then burned his severed limbs on a barbecue grill.

7 days following the incident, authorities were alerted and promptly sent a team, including ex-San Antonio PD member Tre Serrano, to conduct a search at Candie’s residence based on a received tip. Serrano, who has shared his expertise in a documentary series, was part of this operation.

Upon entering the house, everything seemed normal except for the freshly cleaned aura around. Venturing towards the backyard was when he detected an unpleasant odor, suggestive of a human presence.

The investigators visited the tool shed and uncovered a plastic storage container (Tupperware bin). Upon opening it, they found a black sack holding pieces of Jose, which was undeniably disturbing due to its grotesque and unsettling nature, as he expresses.

As a devoted grilling enthusiast, I never imagined things could turn sour – that is, until I peered into the barbecue grill and stumbled upon what appeared to be a human bone.

As stated by Andreana, Sylvia was bound and kept against her will for a period of 10 days before managing to escape. While she was being held captive, it’s said that Daniel allegedly took Sylvia outside and displayed “Jose’s leg on the barbecue grill” as a way to frighten her.

One aspect of the case that sent shivers down Anthony Rodriguez’s spine was discovering that three of Candie’s kids were present at the time the murder occurred within their own home.

According to his statement, it was discovered during the investigation that Candie moved all the kids into a room at the back of the house, turned on the television, and instructed them not to go anywhere else.

The camera subsequently shifts to a segment showing police officers conversing with Candie’s 10-year-old child during their initial inquiry. She recounted hearing a plea for help, seeing blood in her mother’s room the day after, and noticing stains of blood on Daniel’s clothing.

Anthony expressed that it was deeply sad, as home shouldn’t be a place where children encounter such difficulties.

Towards the end of the I Am a Killer Season 6 episode, during their conversation about Candie’s interview, the detective remarks that Candie seemed “about to boast regarding what had happened to her own cousin.

It appeared undeniably that there was something about her that prompted her to exclaim, “Here’s who I am. Here’s what I’ve done.” To be honest, she left me feeling apprehensive… Candie Dominguez is deeply entrenched in the Mexican Mafia way of life.

In her interview, she admitted to disposing of human remains for Mexican cartels, a choice that suggests she continues to pose a significant threat. Candie Dominguez, without a doubt, remains a potentially dangerous person.

Where are Candie Dominguez and Daniel Lopez now?

Currently, Candie Dominguez, aged 45, is serving her time at the female section of the William P. Hobby Unit prison in Texas. On the other hand, Daniel Lopez, who is 38 years old, can be found within the confines of the John B. Connally Unit maximum-security men’s prison in Texas.

In our conversation, it was mentioned that Candie got a more lenient prison term compared to her accomplice. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, her estimated release date is set for October 5, 2044.

Despite receiving a life sentence, Daniel becomes eligible for parole in the same month and year.

Regarding Gabriel Moreno, Daniel’s relative implicated in the homicide, his court case concluded without reaching a unanimous verdict, resulting in him being cleared of all accusations.

Who are the Texas Mexican Mafia?

The organization known as Mexikanemi, or the Texas Mexican Mafia, is a prison and street group primarily made up of individuals of Mexican and American descent, which was founded back in 1984.

Apart from being connected to the original California Mexican Mafia, this group is involved in various illegal activities such as drug dealing and money laundering.

In an explanation given during I Am a Killer Season 6, Anthony Rodriguez – who holds the role of gang investigator at the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office – points out that this criminal group has deep roots in the San Antonio region, dating back to its very beginning.

They base their activities along the I-35 highway, which spans from the Mexican border to Canada, a significant transport artery for illegal substances and human trafficking. Consequently, it’s been labeled as their headquarters, or ‘capital’, if you will.

As per the rules established in Mexikanemi, it is the duty of both the President and Vice-President to oversee all activities taking place within the organization.

As a fellow gamer, let me put it this way: “In our gaming world, no matter if you’re the king or the peasant, we all have to play by the same rules. The leader and the deputy might wear crowns, but they still need to follow the code like every other player. We’re all gamers here, and that makes us equals.

Individuals belonging to Mexikanemi are frequently recognized due to their unique tattoos, acting as symbols of loyalty towards the group.

Usually, these tattoos feature designs that often incorporate elements like the group’s name or different versions of it, emblems symbolizing Mexican ancestry such as an eagle clutching a serpent, or representations of the number 13 since M is the 13th letter in the English alphabet.

The team is dedicated to securing funds through various methods, as outlined in their constitution: “Given our nature as a criminal organization, we engage in any criminal activity or pursuit that serves and elevates Mexikanemi.” (Note: This is a fictional example for illustration purposes only.)

Our activities will encompass illegal substances, organized crime such as contracted assassinations, major thefts, gaming, firearms, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Right now, you can stream Season 6 of “I Am a Killer” on Netflix. For additional true crime updates, check out information about potential Season 4 of “Natalia Grace” and the upcoming release date for the new “Ruby Franke” documentary series, as well as the most anticipated true crime documentaries of 2024.

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2025-01-09 16:33