DA Greg Willis Announces Life Without Parole Sentence for Celina Man Who Murdered Former Girlfriend During Home Invasion
October 15, 2026
(McKinney, Texas) – Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced today that a jury convicted Karl Andrew Stanley, 55, of Celina, of Capital Murder. Under Texas law, that conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Stanley killed a former girlfriend while burglarizing her home in retaliation for her reporting his stalking behavior to the Celina Police Department.
The Crime
On November 25, 2024, Celina Police received a call from a carpenter working at the victim’s home in the Mustang Lakes subdivision. The caller reported that Stanley broke into the home armed with a car jack and began striking the victim with it. The caller wrestled the car jack away from him, but Stanley followed the victim inside the home and began strangling her with his hands. When officers arrived, they found Stanley inside the home mere feet from the victim’s body with her blood and hair on his hands.
The Investigation
Detective Joseph Shires obtained search warrants for the victim’s home, Stanley’s DNA, and his vehicle. The car jack was recovered outside the home as described by the witness. DNA analysis confirmed the victim’s blood was on Stanley’s hands. A document titled “grudge list” was found in his vehicle, with the victim’s name listed first.
Detective Frank Alegre testified that beginning in early November 2024 the victim had reported Stanley’s harassing and stalking behavior to Celina PD. Stanley had recently been criminally trespassed from the victim’s home and was arrested by Celina police two days before the murder for violating that warning. Detective Alegre further testified that he had obtained a stalking arrest warrant for Stanley just two hours before the killing.
The Sentence
Stanley pled not guilty to Capital Murder. After hearing the evidence, a Collin County jury deliberated less than an hour before finding him guilty. Texas law required an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole, which Judge Richard Davis imposed.
Statement from District Attorney Greg Willis
“This man killed a woman in her own home because she reported his stalking to police. He broke in with a car jack, attacked her, and strangled her. A Collin County jury convicted him, and now he will spend every day of the rest of his life in prison while her family will live every day with their loss.
Prosecution Team
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Cresta Garland and Alex Oestreich prosecuted the case, assisted by ADA Edith Anthony, Investigator Robin Laughon, and Victim Assistance Coordinator Melissa White.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.7233
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