HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas – Two brothers are in jail after being accused of beating their stepfather to death following an accusation that he sexually assaulted their 9-year-old sister, according to local reports.
The two brothers, Christian Trevino, 17 and Alejandro Trevino, 18, accompanied by a family friend, Juan Eduardo Melendez, 19, are accused of beating their stepfather on Jan. 20 and leaving him to die in a McAllen field where his body was discovered by a farmer.
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Gabriel Quintanilla, 42, was found with blunt force trauma to his head, ValleyCentral reported.
According to KRGV, police report that a minor -- later identified as Quintanilla’s 9-year-old daughter -- said earlier that day she was being inappropriately touched by Quintanilla at an RV park.
According to a news release from the Pharr Police Department in Hidalgo County, when the girl’s half-brothers -- Alejandro Trevino and Christian Trevino -- found out, they “became enraged and confronted...Quintanilla at the residence.”
KSAT.com, KPRC 2′s sister station, reported a physical fight ensued between the three and Quintanilla left on foot. Christian Trevino reportedly chased Quintanilla to a nearby apartment complex and Melendez drove Alejandro Trevino to the complex where they assaulted Quintanilla again.
From there, reports say that the three accused men left the area and changed vehicles from a red Dodge Charger to an unidentified truck before heading back to the complex where they discovered Quintanilla walking alone. He was allegedly assaulted a third time and then placed into the bed of the unidentified truck and dumped in a field. KSAT, citing reports, noted that police believe brass knuckles were used during the attacks.
The Trevino brothers and Melendez remain jailed on bonds ranging from $1 million to over $1.5 million, as of Tuesday, myRGVNews reported. Christian and Melendez face capital murder charges, and all three face aggravated assault and engaging in criminal activity charges.