Texas teacher dies in court moments before being sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing wife

James Paul Anderson, a former special education teacher from Texas, collapsed and died in court on September 26, 2025, just moments before he was to be sentenced for the murder of his wife, Victoria Anderson.

The incident took place at the Criminal Justice Center in Houston, where Anderson was scheduled to receive a 35-year prison sentence following a plea agreement related to the fatal shooting of his wife in 2023.

Anderson, 39, who also worked previously as a clown known by the stage name "Mister Jazzz," faced charges stemming from the September 2023 shooting death of his wife, Victoria Anderson, 34. Victoria had filed for divorce about a month before the tragic incident and had called 911 on the day of the shooting, reporting that her husband threatened to kill her.


The 911 dispatcher reportedly heard gunfire during the call. Upon police arrival, Anderson allowed their three-year-old son to leave the home before barricading himself inside, leading to a several-hour standoff that ended with his arrest.

On the day of sentencing, after speaking briefly with his attorney, Anderson requested a moment alone and was seen discarding something into a nearby trash bin. Shortly afterward, he began vomiting and collapsed in the courtroom. Court bailiffs administered naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. Emergency medical services transported Anderson to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:05 am.

Investigators found a brown, crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in the discarded bag nearby. The judge temporarily closed the courtroom, declaring the area a crime scene. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Anderson had also previously served as the chair of the Special Education Department at Santa Fe Middle School and had been on administrative leave since his arrest.