Man, who showed up at his ex-wife’s home and shot her multiple times before stabbing their 11-month-old and 2-year-old daughters, killing the younger girl, was sentenced
Texas – A 53-year-old Texas man, identified as S. Clare, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty to a violent attack that left his infant daughter dead and his former wife and another young child severely injured. Authorities said the man carried out the brutal assault after arriving at his ex-wife’s home and attacking the family inside.
Clare was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the capital murder of his 11-month-old daughter, Willow G. In addition to the murder conviction, he also received another life sentence for the attempted capital murder of his 2-year-old daughter, Rosalie G., as well as a sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury to his former wife, Mariah G.
The District Attorney’s Office said Clare accepted a plea agreement before sentencing that ensures he “will spend the remainder of his life in prison with no opportunity to appeal.” First Assistant District Attorney T. Strauch said the resolution of the case was important for the victims and their family. While “no sentence can ever restore or erase the suffering endured from the loss of Willow,” Strauch said prosecutors believed the outcome brought some justice to those affected by the tragedy.
According to court records and statements from Mariah, her relationship with Clare began in October 2017. Over time the couple grew closer and eventually started a family. Their daughter Rosalie was born in August 2020, and the couple married in June 2021 in a backyard ceremony. However, Mariah later said troubling behavior began to surface. “It was as though he had two separate personalities,” she said. “He had the ugly personality that caused arguments, said horrible things, and was controlling, but he had a sweet side, too.”
In February 2022, Mariah filed for divorce. Not long after, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Willow. The divorce was finalized in December 2022, though Clare was granted shared custody of the children. Mariah later described a pattern of disturbing behavior in the months before the attack. She claimed Clare stalked her for an extended period and was driving multiple times daily past her home about half a year before the attack. She also recalled frightening statements he allegedly made, including threats involving the children.
The violence erupted on April 10, 2023, at Mariah’s home. Authorities said Clare arrived at the residence angry and began chasing Mariah through the house. Surveillance video captured the terrifying moments as he pursued her. Prosecutors said Clare then shot Mariah multiple times, leaving her severely wounded. After shooting her, he turned his attention to their two small daughters. Investigators said Clare stabbed both children, fatally injuring 11-month-old Willow and seriously wounding Rosalie. During the chaos, Mariah’s two sons from a previous relationship managed to escape the home by climbing through a window. They ran to a neighbor’s house to get help. Emergency responders were quickly called to the scene.
When officers and paramedics arrived, they encountered a horrific situation inside the home. Police Officer V. Butler later testified about the desperate effort to keep Mariah alive. “I applied pressure to help her, and I spoke to her to keep her breathing just to let her know that she’s not alone,” Butler said. “I really thought she was gonna die in my arms.” Mariah survived despite suffering devastating injuries. She later said she endured seven gunshot wounds, several broken bones, and a large abdominal incision from emergency medical treatment. Her daughter Rosalie also survived after undergoing multiple surgeries. Unfortunately, Willow did not survive the attack.
Police later located Clare about a mile and a half away from the house and took him into custody. During later proceedings, a worker from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services testified that Clare claimed he could not remember what happened during the attack. Ultimately, Clare chose to plead guilty to the charges. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for Willow’s murder, along with additional life sentences for the attempted murder of Rosalie and the aggravated assault against Mariah. Since the tragedy, Mariah has focused on rebuilding her life and raising awareness about domestic violence, hoping that sharing her story can help others recognize warning signs and seek help before situations escalate into violence.
