A 17-year-old Houston high school senior is facing serious charges after being accused of killing a man in front of his pregnant wife.
The case centers around the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Osvaldo Casas, who was gunned down outside his home in Southeast Houston on August 10.
Casas went outside to investigate a suspicious vehicle following a call from a neighbor.
Casas’ wife, Judith Molina, who was eight months pregnant, was inside their home when she heard five to six gunshots. She rushed outside to find her husband collapsed on the ground. Desperate to save him, she attempted CPR, but he succumbed to his injuries before help could arrive.
Martinez missed his scheduled probable cause hearing on Saturday after reportedly being disruptive, and the court proceeded without him. In court documents, the judge described Martinez as obsessive and harassing towards the Casas family. According to the judge’s reading, Martinez had been involved with Casas’ teenage stepdaughter, though the family denies any romantic relationship existed between them.
Reflecting on her loss, Molina said, “He missed out on the birth, and Orlando never got to meet his dad, and he never got to meet Orlando.”
Martinez was arrested last Thursday and is currently being held on a $200,000 bond at the Harris County Jail.
Court documents suggest that Martinez may not have acted alone, indicating that others were potentially involved in the crime.
“Cristian is just one of the people responsible. I believe there’s about two more that still need to be held accountable,” Molina said.
