Two brothers Alejandro and Christian Trevino, along with family friend Juan Eduardo Melendez, are accused of beating 42-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla and leaving him to die in a field. The three Texas teenagers are facing a host of charges in the Thursday beating where Quintanilla’s body was found by a farmer in McAllen. Eighteen-year-old Alejandro Trevino, 17-year-old Christian Trevino, and 18-year-old Juan Eduardo Melendez have since been arrested.
UPDATE: Pharr police releases more details regarding arrest of 3 teens in homicide investigationhttps://t.co/kk8Y27cL1N
— KRGV CHANNEL 5 NEWS (@krgv) January 23, 2022
Severe blunt force trauma to Quintanilla’s head was noted by experts. According to KRGV, police reported that a minor, later identified as Quintanilla’s daughter, accused him of inappropriately touching her at an RV park. “When brothers (Alejandro) 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,” a news release from Pharr Police Department mentioned.
Quintanilla is the stepfather of both Alejandro and Christian Trevino, both of whom are half-siblings of the nine-year-old girl who made allegations, The Monitor reported. Investigators said that Christian Trevino chased Quintanilla to a nearby apartment complex. “A second assault occurs there when Alexandro Trevino and a driver of a red Dodge Charger, Juan Eduardo Melendez, catch up and join the assault towards the victim,” police said. The three suspects then left the apartment, changed vehicles, and drove back, where they found an injured Quintanilla walking alone. The man was then allegedly assaulted a third time before being placed in the bed of the truck and dumped in a field. “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,” police said.
The stepfather had a warrant for continuous sexual abuse of a child and assault family violence at the time of his death. https://t.co/ic49YazElh
— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) January 24, 2022
Quintanilla had a warrant for continuous sexual abuse of a child and assault family violence at the time of his death, according to officials. “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 statement. Alejandro is being held on a $1 million bond while his brother, Christian, is being held on a $1.5 million bond. Family friend Melendez is being held on a $1,502,000 bond. Deputy Chief Juan Gonzalez pointed out that Alejandro is not charged with capital murder because his brother and Melendez are the ones accused of dealing the fatal blows.
Police: Pharr brothers beat stepfather to death for abusing sister | #RGV https://t.co/unhhRbhZXE pic.twitter.com/QIh3pQugyy
— The Monitor (@monitornews) January 23, 2022
According to WFTV, the teenagers have been charged as follows:
Alejandro 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
Cover image source: Getty Images | Ashley Cooper
