Suspect in Pearland teen's death may be illegal immigrant

PEARLAND, TX Pearland police tell us an immigration hold has been placed on Hermilo Moralez. Investigators say Moralez admitted to beating 18-year-old Joshua Wilkerson with a large wooden rod, burning his body, then leaving it in a field.

He claimed Wilkerson made a pass at him. However, police don't believe that was truly the case. Moralez is charged with murder, failure to identify and attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer. An additional charge of tampering with evidence has now been filed after police say Moralez moved Wilkerson's body after allegedly beating him to death.

Police tell us Moralez is from Belize.