A pair of teen brothers from Texas are in jail after being accused of beating their stepfather to death with the help of a friend for sexually abusing their 9-year-old sister.
According to KSAT, 18-year-old brothers Alejandro and Christian Trevino, along with their friend, Juan Eduardo Melendez, also 18, allegedly beat 42-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla and left him to die in a field in McAllen, Texas.
Quintanilla’s body was discovered by a farmer Thursday (Jan. 20) with apparent severe blunt force trauma to his head.
Police reported that a minor, later identified as Quintanilla’s daughter, said she was inappropriately touched by Quintanilla at an RV park.
“When brothers (Alejandro) and Christian Trevino found out, they became enraged and confronted Gabriel Quintanilla at the residence. A physical fight ensued between the three and the victim Quintanilla left the location on foot,” stated a news release from Pharr Police Department.
KRGV reported that Christian Trevino chased Quintanilla to a nearby apartment complex, while Melendez drove Alejandro Trevino to the complex, where they assaulted Quintanilla again.
The trio then left the area and switched vehicles from a red Dodge Charger to a truck before going back to the complex where they found Quintanilla walking alone, Pharr police said.
Quintanilla was assaulted a third time, police said, before being put in the bed of the truck and dumped in a field. Police believe Quintanilla may have been still alive when the teens allegedly dumped his body.
Arrest records show Melendez was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and marijuana possession.
Christian Trevino was charged with aggravated assault, murder and engaging in organized criminal activity, and his brother Alejandro Trevino was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated assault.
According to a report from MyRGV, Alejandro wasn’t charged with murder because police believe Christian and Melendez were the ones who dealt the fatal blows. Police also believe that brass knuckles were used during at least one of the assaults on Quintanilla.
At the time of his death, Quintanilla had a warrant out for continuous sexual abuse of a child and assault family violence, police said.
The three teens are being held on a $1 million bond.
