Brittany Munoz Murder Verdict: Garrett Gower Guilty of Killing Pregnant 16-Year-Old Girlfriend

By: Kevin Hayes
Topics: Daily Blotter

DENTON, Texas (CBS/AP) A Texas jury convicted Garrett Gower of Fort Worth of capital murder in the November 2009 killing of his pregnant 16-year-old girlfriend, Brittany Munoz.

According to The Dallas Morning News, the jury deliberated only 90 minutes.

A judge in Denton, about 50 miles northwest of Dallas, then sentenced 21-year-old Garrett Gower to an automatic life prison term Wednesday. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.

Investigators say Brittany Munoz was about six weeks pregnant when she was slain. A medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was suffocation.

Prosecutors say Gower attacked Munoz when she had threatened to tell his mother that she was expecting the couple's child. On Nov. 10, 2009, police found Brittany's body in the apartment she shared with her mother and sister.

According to the Dallas Morning News, prosecutor Ryan Calvert described Gower, now 21, as an "angry boyfriend whose world was collapsing around him" in his opening statements.

Calvert said Gower was afraid his mother would kick him out of the house if she found out about Brittany's pregnancy.

The arrest warrant affidavit for Gower, obtained by CBS affiliate KTVT, says Munoz suffered blunt-force trauma to her head. According to the document, she was found on her bed and shards of glass were found under her body and around the bed. It also says her left eye was black and blue.

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by chilloutpeople October 12, 2010 1:47 PM EDT

you people are ridiculous. You dont even know the kid. I grew up with him and know that he was undeniably wrong and deserves jail for what happened yes. but he doesnt deserve the way you all are talking about him. he made a huge mistake. get off your high horse and stop acting like your perfect. cause i promise your not even ******* close. he's been convicted by a judge and jury. You trying to convict him yourself and judge him yourself is not necessary. I grew up with them both and you dont know a damn thing your talking about. you only know the ******** that the news has been feeding you. so since your ingnorant and believe everything the news tells you i say your judgement is just as bad as his.

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by outragedbff January 19, 2012 11:54 PM EST: so you might be talking to these people who have only read the news report. but guess what i grew up with brittany since elementary. and i wanna say screw your judged and juried s***! he hasnt even begun to pay for the pain he has brought to just me, not only the rest of the world brittany brought love and happiness too. he had no right, he is a selfish cowardly moron. Me and brittany were pregnant at the exact same time! we were sapposed to have our babies grow up together, now im alone. DO NOT DARE to start to defend him. IDIOTS; RIP BRITTANY MICHELLE MUNOZ. she was a shining star.


by cjknutson August 30, 2010 12:08 AM EDT: "Gower was afraid his mother would kick him out of the house if she found out about Brittany's pregnancy."

Nice. Looks like he won't have to worry about staying at mom's for a while.; Reply to this comment


by magnumdr August 27, 2010 4:14 AM EDT: Why didn't this person get convicted for the death of the child also. I don't wany my taxes to pay for him to live off me.; Reply to this comment


by justice_1965 August 26, 2010 11:39 PM EDT: justice_1965: I say he should die just as he killed her and out on Main Street where everyone could have witnessed it, because he is less than a human and he doesn't desire to live because he took her life. And it also show that he care for himself and not his own child she was carrying. A beautiful child did not have a chance to finish school or marry and her mother did not have the pleasure of witnessing her do all these thing. As a father of two beautiful daughters and two granddaughters, I would have killed that SOB before he went to Court and saved the taxpayers some $$ because he would not be taken care of the rest of his life. I say to all young girls out there, leave these no
good got nothing wanna-be-men just where they are and take your time and find a nice young man who is getting his education and self together for the future. All these thugs out there don't have anything and no respect for themself or you will mean you no good, but plenty of
trouble and try to get what you or your ppl have. I am so happy that my daughters have great husbands and one that want to have something. Girls, get yourself together and forget these thugs forever!; Reply to this comment


by justice_1965 August 26, 2010 11:39 PM EDT: justice_1965: I say he should die just as he killed her and out on Main Street where everyone could have witnessed it, because he is less than a human and he doesn't desire to live because he took her life. And it also show that he care for himself and not his own child she was carrying. A beautiful child did not have a chance to finish school or marry and her mother did not have the pleasure of witnessing her do all these thing. As a father of two beautiful daughters and two granddaughters, I would have killed that SOB before he went to Court and saved the taxpayers some $$ because he would not be taken care of the rest of his life. I say to all young girls out there, leave these no
good got nothing wanna-be-men just where they are and take your time and find a nice young man who is getting his education and self together for the future. All these thugs out there don't have anything and no respect for themself or you will mean you no good, but plenty of
trouble and try to get what you or your ppl have. I am so happy that my daughters have great husbands and one that want to have something. Girls, get yourself together and forget these thugs forever!; Reply to this comment

by formrusmcsgt August 26, 2010 8:40 PM EDT

Calvert said Gower was afraid his mother would kick him out of the house if she found out about Brittany's pregnancy.
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What a total scumbag.

Claiming the priveleges of a man while being nothing but a punk who couldn't even care for himself....

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by pak31 August 27, 2010 10:00 AM EDT: I totally agree. He had no problem impregnating her, why wasn't he more careful to prevent a pregnancy then? Just an animal. It's amazing to think that a human being could have the desire/ability to murder another human being plus knowing a life was growing inside her, all just to keep his mom from finding out. Now instead he spends the rest of his life in jail. I would think mom finding out would have been the better deal.

by jnostromo August 26, 2010 4:34 PM EDT

It was a mistake not to seek the death penalty...Too many people are sitting in prison with life terms draining tax dollars...Make the death penalty mandatory and use it and help save tax dollars for more beneficial purposes.

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