Texas Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Girlfriend Whose Remains Were Found in Backyard Burn Pit

A Texas man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his girlfriend, Tiffany Garza, whose disappearance in 2019 led to a years-long investigation and the discovery of human remains in a backyard burn pit.

Jeffrey Lee Devorah, 47, received the sentence after a jury found him guilty of murder on August 13, 2026. An Atascosa County judge handed down the punishment in late September. Devorah must serve at least 30 years before becoming eligible for parole, according to local news reports.

A Disappearance That Left a Family Searching for Answers

Garza, 37, was last seen on March 25, 2019, and was reported missing soon afterward. For years, investigators worked to establish what had happened to her.

A key development came when authorities received information from a witness who claimed to have been present when Garza was killed. According to prosecutors, the witness also said they helped Devorah burn her remains in the backyard of his property near Poteet, Texas.

Investigators searched the property and discovered blood evidence inside the home, along with human bones and bone fragments in a backyard burn pit.

Forensic Evidence Helped Identify the Remains

Forensic experts from Texas State University examined the recovered bone fragments. Their analysis determined that the remains belonged to a woman. Investigators also tested blood evidence collected from the home, and DNA findings were consistent with Garza’s biological family line, authorities said.

The evidence, combined with witness information and other investigative findings, helped build the case that ultimately resulted in Devorah’s conviction.

A Life Sentence After Years of Investigation

The case reached a major turning point when a jury found Devorah guilty of murder in August 2026. He chose to have a judge determine his punishment rather than leaving that decision to the jury.

At sentencing, family members and friends of Garza were present in court. Atascosa County District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis said the sentence could not undo the family’s loss, while emphasizing that Garza’s life mattered and that the truth deserved to be pursued.

The case highlights how witness information and forensic evidence can help investigators make progress in a disappearance that has remained unresolved for years.

For Garza’s loved ones, the sentence represents a significant development after years of uncertainty. Although no court decision can restore the life that was lost, the conviction brings a formal conclusion to the criminal case and holds Devorah accountable under the law.

Source:

San Antonio Express-News

KSAT