Ector County Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Neglect and Murder of Disabled Sister

ECTOR COUNTY, TX – An Ector County jury has sentenced Christine Raines to life in prison after finding her guilty of Murder, Injury to a Child/Elderly/Disabled Individual, Tampering with a Human Corpse, and Tampering with Physical Evidence. The sentences for all charges will be served concurrently.

The charges stem from a tragic incident on January 29, 2022, when police were dispatched to a home and discovered the victim, a disabled, non-verbal woman with Down syndrome, deceased on a mattress in a filthy room.

The victim’s sister and caretaker, Christine Raines, was found to have left the victim alone for extended periods. An autopsy revealed the cause of death was an electrolyte imbalance from a lack of nutrition and hydration. The victim, who weighed only 66 pounds at the time of her death, also had severe bedsores and a bleeding diaper rash, which were cited as clear signs of prolonged neglect.

Further investigation by the Odessa Police Department revealed that Raines attempted to conceal her actions by bathing the victim’s body and cleaning parts of the scene before law enforcement arrived.

The case was prosecuted by Trial Chiefs Kortney Williams and Jessica Gorman, and presided over by Judge Denn Whalen. Authorities thanked the jury, the Odessa Police Department, and the prosecution team for their work on the case.