Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2022 Murder and Dismemberment in Winkler County
WINKLER COUNTY, TX — A man convicted of brutally murdering and dismembering a commercial truck driver in 2022 will spend the rest of his life in prison following a jury trial in Winkler County. On July 16, 2025, 33-year-old Alejandro Rodriguez Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 48-year-old Alexis Sanchez Azcuy and received an additional 20-year sentence for abuse of a corpse.
The case began in March 2022 when Sanchez Azcuy was reported missing after his truck was found abandoned in Winkler County. He was last in contact with his family just days before the discovery of the vehicle. The Texas Rangers and the FBI launched a joint investigation that soon revealed a grim reality — Sanchez Azcuy had been murdered, and his remains were later found scattered across Winkler County, Texas, and Lea County, New Mexico.
Investigators used cell phone records and DNA evidence to identify Hernandez as a suspect. He was arrested in Hobbs, New Mexico, on July 11, 2022, initially for tampering with evidence. As the investigation progressed, Hernandez was formally charged with murder and abuse of a corpse. He was extradited to Texas for trial.
According to law enforcement, the murder was committed with extreme brutality, and Sanchez Azcuy’s body was dismembered in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime. Investigators believe Hernandez acted out of greed, though specific details about a motive have not been publicly disclosed.
The investigation involved extensive coordination between the Texas Rangers, the FBI (Midland, Las Cruces, and Roswell offices), the Hobbs Police Department, the Lea County Sheriff’s Office, the Winkler County Sheriff’s Office, and the 109th District Attorney’s Office. Law enforcement credited strong multi-agency partnerships with ensuring Hernandez was brought to justice.
“This case is a testament to the Texas Rangers’ commitment to bringing justice to victims and their families and putting violent criminals in jail,” said DPS West Texas Region Chief Jose Sanchez.
FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales stated, “In a barbaric act committed out of greed and followed by horrifying cruelty, Hernandez scattered the remains across the West Texas region, believing he could evade justice. The FBI will never stop pursuing those who threaten our communities’ safety.”
District Attorney Amanda Navarette noted that the jury returned a swift verdict and sent a clear message that violent and heinous crimes will not be tolerated in Winkler County. She commended the investigative agencies for their persistence in solving the case.
Anyone with additional information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Midland District Office at (432) 498-2130.
