Texas brothers, friend beat stepfather to death for sexually abusing sister, police say

Three Texas teenagers are facing a host of charges in the Thursday beating death of a man accused of sexually abusing the younger sister of two of the suspects.

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Eighteen-year-old Alejandro Trevino, 17-year-old Christian Trevino and 18-year-old Juan Eduardo Melendez have been arrested in connection with the death of Gabriel Quintanilla, 42, whose body was found in a field in McAllen, Texas, KRGV reported.

Quintanilla was found with apparent severe blunt force trauma to his head, KGBT-TV reported.

According to investigators with the Pharr Police Department, a minor made an outcry about being inappropriately touched by Quintanilla.

Quintanilla is the stepfather of both Alejandro and Christian Trevino, both of whom are half-siblings of the 9-year-old girl who made the sexual abuse allegations, The Monitor reported.

“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 department stated in a news release.

Investigators said that Christian Trevino then chased Quintanilla to a nearby apartment complex, where a second assault occurred involving Alexandro Trevino and the driver of a red Dodge Charger, identified as Melendez.

According to KRGV, the three suspects then left the apartment, changed vehicles and drove back, where they found an injured Quintanilla walking alone. A third assault ensued in which Quintanilla was severely beaten with brass knuckles, police stated.

Quintanilla was then placed in the bed of the truck and dumped in the McAllen field, possibly still alive, investigators said.

“This investigation was complex having multiple scenes. I am proud of how our detectives were able to put the pieces together in such a short time,” Pharr Chief of Police Andy Harvey said in a prepared statement.

The suspects have been charged as follows:

  • Alexandro Trevino: aggravated assault/family violence and engaging in organized criminal activity
  • Christian Trevino: aggravated assault/family violence, capital murder and engaging in criminal activity
  • Juan Eduardo Melendez: capital murder, aggravated assault and engaging in criminal activity

Pharr police also stated that Quintanilla was wanted on unrelated charges of continuous sexual assault of a child and assault/family violence, KRGV reported.


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