TYLER, Texas — After months of waiting through an investigation and trial, the brother of Paula Belonga said Thursday he was glad to see justice served when jurors reached a guilty verdict in her murder.
Jesse Lee Williams, 41, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murdering Belonga, 51. She was last seen on April 7, 2023, leaving her apartment complex in Tyler, and her body has not yet been found. Williams must serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Following the verdict, Belonga's brother Robert Baldinell said there is relief that the case has come to an end.
"There's satisfaction that comes with that -- just knowing that we've gotten to this point now. We can kind of start putting this behind us and moving forward," Baldinell said.
He hopes to get together with family and friends soon to reminisce and keep her memory in a good light.
Baldinell said his sister was full of laughter, love and sass, which were qualities that made her the special person she was.
"She didn't know a stranger," he said. "Her personality was infectious. She'll just be missed. I mean she's quite the loss. Through of course, my entire life with her, she was just somebody we always depended on, and she provided us with endless hours of entertainment."
If he could say anything to his sister, Baldinell said it would be "I miss you."
He recalled initially making the call that she was missing in April 2023 and months later, he learned it was a murder investigation.
While he was thankful to see the verdict that came down, Baldinell said the grieving process has been difficult without having a body to mourn.
"The hardest part was without actually physically having her, you can't ever have that finality that comes with somebody who passes, that you're able to put to rest. And so we did the best we could by having a memorial," he said. "And of course, a lot of our friends and our friends and family showed up, and we were able to celebrate in that way."
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