Two teenage half-brothers have been arrested in Texas for beating their father to death for allegedly sexually abusing his own nine-year-old daughter, their half-sister.
The incident took place in the city of Pharr, which is located in Hidalgo County, in the southern US state of Texas, with police officers responding to a 911 call at approximately 2.41pm last Thursday, 20th January.
The call was reportedly made by a local farmer, who told police that he had found the father’s corpse in his field.
The teenage half-brothers have been named as Alexandro Trevino, 18, and Christian Trevino, 17, and they were detained along with their friend, who has been named as Juan Eduardo Melendez, 18, for allegedly killing the teenage half-brothers’ father, Gabriel Quintanilla, 42.
Quintanilla reportedly had a warrant out for the continuous sexual abuse of a child and for assault.
The brothers reportedly share the same father, but have different mothers, and both are half-siblings of the nine-year-old alleged victim.
The Pharr Police Department said in a statement that the father had died as a result of a “family situation” after the nine-year-old girl, who has not been named, allegedly told her half-brothers that her father had molested her at a recreational vehicle park near the city of McAllen, also in Texas.
The police added: “When brothers Alexandro 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.”
The police added that Christian then chased after his father and allegedly continued assaulting him.
The police said: “A second assault occurs there when Alexandro Trevino and a driver of a red Dodge Charger, Juan Eduardo Melendez, catch up and joined the assault towards the victim.”
The three suspects then allegedly left in Melendez’ car before returning in a Ford F-150 pickup truck and allegedly fatally assaulting him.
The police said: “A third assault occurs and the victim is severely beaten. The victim who is still alive is placed in the bed of the truck and drove off and ended up in the McColl and Whalen Road area where the victim was dropped off in an open field and the suspects fled.”
The father is believed to have passed away shortly afterwards. He was found dead in the field, and police suspect that knuckledusters, also known as brass knuckles, were used in the final assault.
Christian and Melendez face charges of capital murder, aggravated assault, family violence, as well as engaging in organised criminal activity, while Alexandro has been charged with aggravated assault and engaging in organised criminal activity.
It is currently unclear if the suspects have been charged.
