After two men and a woman were arrested and accused of killing a man in Texas by beating him with a hammer, authorities discovered a cell phone video with horrifying images.
The detainees are Jesus Grijalva Jr.43 years old, Samuel Uvalle Sr.47 years old, and Monica Gomez41. A fourth suspect, Roberto Salas35, has been on the run for weeks and has not been able to be located.
After ending the life of Juan Carlos Hernandez De Leon On May 7, the defendants filmed themselves using an excavator to bury a barrel containing the victim’s remains.
According to a press release from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a report of a possible homicide that occurred in San Juan, Texas.
A witness told investigators that an adult man who had been reported missing earlier this month, later identified as Hernandez De Leon, was murdered at a residence at 1900 Morningset Road.
Additionally, the witness told investigators that the victim’s body had been moved to another location in the area near 4600 Wisconsin Road in Edinburg, Texas.
They put the body in a barrel and buried it
A probable cause affidavit indicated that Uvalle Sr. got into an argument with Hernandez De Leon, and he and Grijalva began attacking him with a hammer. Later Roberto Salas and Mónica Gómez joined the attack.
Once the crime has been committed, The three male suspects put Hernández De León’s body in a barrel, They loaded it onto a truck and transported it to the property in Edinburg.
Investigators searched Grijalva’s phone, which contained a video showing Gómez on the property helping with an excavator to bury the barrel with Hernández De León’s body inside, according to court documents.
It was also learned that Gómez and another suspect, Jennifer Snider, They took the victim’s cell phone and threw it away..
A fifth suspect, Alejandro Cantú, 28, was also arrested in connection with the murder. Detectives say they learned that Cantú collected the excavator used to bury Hernández De León from the Edinburg property, and that “Cantú knew that the body was inside the barrel”.
He is charged with one count of tampering with physical evidence with intent to harm a human corpse. He is currently being held on $1 million bail.
Gomez is currently being held on $4.3 million bail, while Uvalle Sr. and Grijalva are being held on $5 million bail. Salas remains wanted on an active arrest warrant for murderand those with information are asked to contact Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers at (956) 668-TIPS.
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