It was a case that shook the Houston community to its core. On August 24, 2020, Harris County sheriff’s deputies arrived at an apartment where they found an unresponsive infant, 8-month-old Savayah Mason. Despite frantic efforts by emergency medical personnel, little Savayah was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day. The events that unfolded in the weeks and months following her death would reveal an unthinkable crime.
Luis Luna, the baby’s father, had placed the desperate call to authorities that morning, claiming his daughter had stopped breathing. But an autopsy soon uncovered a darker truth. Savayah had been suffocated, her tiny body bearing signs of horrific abuse. Marks on her neck and ligature marks on her limbs indicated that she had been bound. Worse still, the autopsy confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted.
The case led to Luna’s arrest, and a lengthy investigation culminated in a 10-day trial. In October 2023, Luis Luna, 27, was convicted of capital murder for the killing and sexual assault of his daughter. The Harris County Attorney’s Office shared the news in a press release, confirming that Luna was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“This baby couldn’t walk or talk, and she should have been with someone who kept her safe, but instead he abused that trust,” said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. Her words spoke to the profound sense of betrayal felt by all who heard the details of the case.
KPCR-TV reported, that Assistant District Attorneys Edward A. Appelbaum and Sara Delgado, who prosecuted the case, were similarly shaken by the heinous nature of the crime. Appelbaum described it as “one of the most horrific acts of violence imaginable,” calling Luna’s actions “the worst kind of evil in the world.”
Throughout the trial, the court heard evidence of Luna’s appalling actions and the suffering inflicted on his helpless child. For those in attendance, the proceedings were a grim reminder of the depths of human cruelty.
While Luna will spend the rest of his life behind bars, the memory of Savayah Mason and the horrors she endured remain with the community. The case is a devastating example of the failure of a parent to protect their most vulnerable child, leaving a wound that words alone cannot heal.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.