The Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit has charged Veronica Muniz, 27; Marcelino Osuna, 25; and Richard Osuna, 30, with capital murder in the stabbing death of Jesus "Jesse" Leal Valdez.
Valdez, who was reported missing by his family to the Pasadena Police Department, was later discovered buried in a shallow grave in the 5200 block Mohawk on Saturday. Valdez's death was the result of an apparent robbery. He had been missing since New Year's Day.
Muniz was arrested on Wednesday, after a standoff with police at an apartment in Texas City that lasted more than two hours. Once inside, officers found a man now identified by the medical examiner as Steven Osuna, 29, dead. Found naked, except for his socks, they say he hanged himself in the closet with a neck tie. They say they recognized Muniz from surveillance video that reportedly showed her using a debit card that belonged to Valdez.
According to court documents, Muniz confesed that she and two men lured Valdez to the location on Mohawk by saying they wanted to buy a car.
"She admitted that she, along with several other co-defendants, all conspired to call the complaintant, lure him to a meeting so that they could rob him and hold him for ransom from his family," a prosecutor told the court. "Once there the complainant was beaten, stabbed to death and robbed for $300. The complainant was then buried in the back yard of that residence, and his vehicle was cut up with a blowtorch."
Whether the suspects knew Valdez or if this was a random, but targeted, killing is still unclear. Detectives are not saying.
Muniz is currently booked into the Harris County jail for capital murder and no bond is set. In addition to the capital murder charge, she is also charged with credit card abuse.
Marcelino and Richard Osuna, who are brothers, turned themselves in around 5:30pm Thursday to the bonding office on San Jacinto.
Funeral services for Jesus "Jesse" Leal as follows:
Visitation for Jesus Leal will be from 5pm - 8pm on Friday, January 17 at St. Pius V Catholic Church located at 824 Main St. in Pasadena, Texas 77506. Rosary will be at 7pm.
The funeral Mass for Jesus Leal will begin at 10am on Saturday, January 18 at St. Pius V Catholic Church located at 824 Main St. in Pasadena, Texas 77056. The funeral Mass will then be followed by a procession to Forest Lawn Cemetery at 8701 Almeda-Genoa Rd. in Houston, Texas 77075.
Flowers can be sent to: Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 8706 Almeda-Genoa, Houston, TX 77075
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