Son arrested for helping father move dead body before burning it in pickup truck on Christmas: HCSO

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Authorities say they've arrested a 17-year-old for allegedly helping his dad move the body of a man killed on Christmas Day.

In a social post, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on Monday that HCSO homicide detectives charged 17-year-old Santiago Bustamante with tampering with evidence in connection to the case where his father, Ernesto Bustamante, allegedly killed a man and burned his body in a pickup truck on Christmas.

According to HCSO, Santiago Bustamante helped his father move the body to the location in the 10000 block of Fellows Road near Del Papa Street, where the vehicle fire took place.

PREVIOUS REPORT: Man arrested after allegedly killing man, burning his body in pickup truck on Christmas, docs say

Authorities identified the victim as 25-year-old Juan Francisco Benitez.

According to officials, Benitez and Ernesto were hanging out when they got into an argument that ended with Ernesto allegedly shooting Benitez.

Court documents showed that Ernesto lives just down the way from where he and Santiago allegedly dumped the body and the truck before burning them.

Santiago was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail, Gonzalez said.

Ernesto was charged with two felony counts, one for murder and the other for tampering or fabricating physical evidence, according to court documents.