In a San Antonio, Texas courtroom, David Engwiller faced the man responsible for his son’s tragic death as 29-year-old Daniel Garcia was sentenced for the 2021 fatal incident involving Domenic Aguilar Acevedo, Engwiller’s beloved 5-year-old son. According to a report by Law and Crime on Thursday, August 15, 2024, the heart-wrenching moment came to a head when a video of Domenic, smiling and saying “I love you so much, mommy,” was played in court, overwhelming Engwiller with grief.
As the video played, David Engwiller’s emotions boiled over. He screamed in agony, tossed a water bottle, and then approached the defendant, Daniel Garcia, shouting, “I should kill you right here!” before being restrained and removed from the courtroom by deputies.
The emotional outburst occurred during the sentencing of Daniel Garcia, who was ultimately handed a life sentence by Judge Velia J. Meza of the 226th District Court. The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office announced that Garcia had been found guilty in May of injury to a child causing serious bodily harm, in connection with the death of Domenic Aguilar Acevedo.
During the hearing, Domenic’s grandmother, Serline Acevedo, delivered a poignant victim impact statement. “Domenic was just 5 years old and all that he did was play with his dinosaurs and his sisters,” she tearfully recalled. “And now he is no more with us because one person who did not love him just took his life. I will not hear him say ‘nana.’ Now all I have is a big pain in my heart that I will have all of my life.”
The tragic events began in July 2021 when Garcia, his daughter, his girlfriend Nickolle Aguilar, and her son Domenic were staying at an extended-stay hotel in San Antonio. According to court testimony, Garcia subjected Domenic to ongoing physical abuse, punishing him for minor infractions like not responding quickly enough or not eating fast enough. The abuse culminated on July 24, 2021, when Garcia fatally threw Domenic into a wall, causing injuries that led to his death hours later.
In an attempt to cover up the crime, Garcia and Aguilar transported Domenic’s body to a remote area in Colorado, where they buried him. The child’s remains were discovered after his grandmother alerted authorities to his disappearance, leading to the arrest of Garcia and Aguilar in Florida.
Due to the advanced decomposition of Domenic’s body, prosecutors pursued charges of injury to a child with serious bodily harm, supported by evidence, including hotel surveillance footage. “The evidence in this case is tragic and painful from beginning to end,” said Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales. “Domenic deserved so much better than what he got in life, and Daniel Garcia deserves every last day of his time in prison.”
Nickolle Aguilar, who initially faced more severe charges, reached a plea agreement, pleading guilty to a lesser charge of injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury in exchange for her testimony against Garcia. Judge Meza sentenced her to 15 years in prison, a reduced sentence given the circumstances.
The life sentence handed down to Daniel Garcia serves as a measure of justice for Domenic Aguilar Acevedo, whose short life was marked by tragedy. The courtroom confrontation and the sentences imposed underscore the profound grief and anger felt by the family as they continue to mourn the loss of their beloved child.