ORANGE, Texas — A man previously accused of murder was sentenced to prison time on Wednesday for a separate charge.
Joseph Allen Guidry was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to tampering with evidence. Judge Raquel West gave Guidry the maximum sentence as a part of the open plea.
Guidry was accused of murder after the remains of Melinda Gail Murray, 45, were found in a box in Jefferson County in 2015. The murder charge was dropped in early December of 2021.
“The allegations surrounding the death took place in Orange County and not in Jefferson County but for some reason he was charged with murder in Jefferson County, which was not the correct county to get charged in,” said Ryan Gertz.
Guidry was originally accused of murdering Melinda Murray in 2015. Her remains were found buried in a wooden box in Jefferson County.
“If Joseph didn't do it he knows who did,” said Katelyn Raymer.
Murray accepted the plea deal for 20 years in prison. Although he pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, the murder charge was dropped, and that doesn't sit right with Murry’s family.
“She could have had 30-40 more years to go watch her grandchildren graduate,” said Raymer. “She had a whole life ahead of her that was taken from her. I feel like 20 years is a slap on the wrist.”
They said Melinda had a lot of life to give to her seven children and 16 grandchildren.
“Our children will never know her all they know is her picture,” Raymer said.
Murray’s daughter-in-law describes her as kind and compassionate.
“She loved you know she did whatever she could for anybody,” Raymer said.
Even though Melinda’s remains were found in 2015 she wasn't identified until 2021
“It was great to finally be able to lay her to rest but she sat there for six years that's a long time,” Raymer said.
Time the family spent in pain.
“My husband personally he has had a very hard time with this you know he went downhill for a while,” Raymer said.
As they work through the pain one last question remains, can Guidry be tried for Melinda’s murder in Orange County?
That's still unclear. But legal experts say it's uncommon especially after a plea deal dismissing the murder charge.
During a victim impact statement, the daughter-in-law of Murray said she wanted Guidry to know how his alleged actions affected her family.
“She [Murray] has many grandchildren. Two of which were six months old at the time of her disappearance,” the daughter-in-law said. “She has two whole new grandchildren she never knew she would have. She planned on bettering her self and being a better person for her family.”
Murray’s daughter-in-law said the victim loved her family and that her grandchildren made her want to be a better person. The daughter-in-law stated that Murray’s loved ones hurt everyday knowing they will never see her again.
“I feel like that opportunity was taken from her, and I feel like that was taken from our children,” the daughter-in-law said. “They don’t know her or remember her. My husband hurts every day. He was her baby. He was her world. They were very very, very close.”
Family of Murray said the last seven years have been hard for them.
“It’s been very painful,” the daughter-in-law said. “I want you to know she had a family. She had people who cared. She was a human being.”
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