Trey Greenleaf’s Fate Decided in the Murder of Kendra Vela

A jury handed down their verdict in the Capital Murder case.

In 2023 Amarillo saw a drop in homicides from the previous years. Sixteen homicides occurred in Amarillo in 2023.  One of those homicides took the life of an Amarillo woman and her unborn baby.

On Sunday, February 5, 2023, the Amarillo Police Department was called to the WoodSpring Suites hotel on East I-40.  After arriving they found 31-year-old Kendra Vela dead of apparent gunshot wounds.  APD was able to track down a suspect at another hotel.  After calling in the Critical Incident Response Team they apprehended Trey Phillip Greenleaf. He was arrested and booked into the Potter County Jail for murder.

When Was Greenleaf Indicted?

On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, a Grand Jury indicted Trey Phillip Greenleaf on one charge of capital murder of multiple persons and a charge of murder in the death of Kendra Vela and her unborn child. He was held in lieu of $1 million bond.

In May 2023, a motion for bond to be reduced to $50,000 was made but ultimately denied.

On September 27, 2023, a hearing] took place to state  that "Counsel of record declined to appear because he is no longer licensed and believed he was not allowed to appear."

Greenleaf's attorney Ronald Spriggs was no longer eligible to practice.

The Trial and Verdict

Greenleaf's trial lasted 6 days and on Tuesday, September 24th, after deliberating less than an hour a jury found Greenleaf guilty of the murder of Kendra Vela.  The jury deliberated for less than an hour.

Greenleaf was sentenced to life in prison without parole

Since Greenleaf was convicted of capital murder, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. If he had been convicted of the lesser charge of first degree murder, he would have been eligible for parole in 40 years, at 71 years old.

Greenleaf's attorney has already filed a notice of appeal in the Capital Murder case.

Updated as of 8/06/2023

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