Kingsland woman's murder trial continues

By Alexandria Randolph
Highland Lakes Newspapers

A Kingsland woman has been in trial in Llano District Court this week to face murder charges in the killing of her husband two years ago
The murder trial of Kathryn Louise Preston, 47, began on Monday, July 18, in the court of District Judge Evan Stubbs. Preston was charged with murder after authorities said she struck her husband over the head and tried to burn his body on August 26, 2014.
Preston is represented by attorney Eddie Shell, who could not be reached as of press time.
Preston's husband Jose Mario Hernandez, 23, was found dead on a Tuesday morning in their residence in the 200 block of McGee Trail in Kingsland. Llano County Sheriff's Deputies, EMS personnel and firefighters first responded to a 911 call for a fire with possible injuries that morning at 9:29 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found Preston sitting in the back yard, according to a Llano County arrest affidavit.
"Kathryn stated she had been abused by her husband and that he was on the bedroom floor. Kathryn stated that her husband hit his head on a rock," wrote Llano County Deputy Kirk Jowers in the affidavit.
Jowers said he and another deputy located Hernandez in the bedroom, where "he had been wrapped in a blanket and set on fire. There was a large piece of concrete next to his body… (they) also observed an injury to the male subject's head."
The couple's home was not damaged by fire, Llano County Chief Deputy John Neff said during the investigation. Animal control was called to the residence, however, in regards to a high number of pets, he said.
Texas Rangers and a State Fire Marshall assisted Llano County authorities in the investigation of Hernandez' death.