Bender pleads guilty to murder

ANDERSON- Robert Bender, 29, of Shiro pleaded guilty to the murder of Henry Jesus Mayen, Monday, Sept. 23, and was sentenced to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by 5-99 years in prison.

Assistant district attorney Courtney Cain represented the State before Judge Donald Kraemer.

On Aug. 6, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. law enforcement responded to a shooting at 19257 State Highway 30 in Shiro. Mayen, 26, sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.

Investigators stated Bender and Mayen knew each other and at one point were friends. The shooting stemmed from a verbal exchange the two had earlier in the day. Bender was reportedly upset over insults and verbal threats from Mayen.

Investigators said Mayen was upset that Bender was living with his estranged wife. Bender later returned to confront Mayen. The exact sequence of events wasn’t determined, but during the confrontation, Bender shot Mayen with a .22 caliber rifle.

Bender eventually began performing CPR on his former friend.

Members of Mayen’s family stood in the courtroom as Bender was being sentenced. Mayen’s aunt and uncle delivered victim impact statements to Bender.

“I am pleased that the defendant accepted responsibility for his actions in this case,” stated district attorney Andria Bender. “The death of Henry May-en was a senseless tragedy. I am grateful the family can finally begin to move past this incident. I am also grateful the child witnesses involved will not be put through the stress of a trial. They have been through so much already.”