Two Texas brothers are being accused of beating their stepfather to death for allegedly sexually abusing their 9-year old half-sister.
Alejandro Trevino, 18, faces aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity charges. His brother Christian Trevino, 17, and their friend Juan Eduardo Melendez, 18, are facing capital murder and aggravated assault charges in the death of Gabriel Quintanilla, 42, who was found in a McAllen, Texas, field by a farmer on Jan. 20.
The beating allegedly occurred after the brothers found out that their stepdad had been accused of inappropriately touching their half-sister, police say. All three are being held in Hidalgo County Jail.
Media reports say Quintanilla’s body was found with apparent severe blunt force trauma to his head. McAllen Police Department handed the investigation over to the Pharr Police Department.
In a news release, Pharr police said that when the Trevino brothers found out their step-sister made an outcry and was presumably being abused by Quintanilla, they became enraged and confronted Gabriel Quintanilla at the residence and a physical fight began.
Quintanilla left the location on foot and the brothers chased him to a nearby apartment complex, where a second assault occurred involving their friend Melendez. The three suspects then left the location, changed vehicles and drove back, where they found Quintanilla walking alone and injured, according to Pharr police.
Quintanilla was allegedly assaulted a third time, before being placed in the bed of a truck and dumped in the field and police believe he might have still been alive when the teens allegedly dumped his body.
Pharr Police Chief Andy Harvey said Quintanilla had previously been accused of continuous sexual abuse of a minor. The police continues investigating the murder of Mr. Quintanilla to bring more facts to the case.
