Texas

Texas teen murder suspect blows kiss in court during hearing for shooting of stepfather of girl he stalked

Published

8 months ago

October 23, 2024

Texas teen murder suspect blows kiss in court during hearing for shooting of stepfather of girl he stalked

An alleged teen stalker and murder suspect blew kisses inside a Texas courtroom as a judge raised his bond to $2 million for the alleged killing of the stepfather of a 16-year-old girl he had been creeping on.

Christian Martinez pursed his lips towards the gallery of a Houston courtroom during his first court appearance following the fatal shooting of Osvaldo Casas on Aug. 10.

The 17-year-old is accused of gunning down Casas, 37, who had confronted the teen outside his home in the Meadowbrook/Allendale neighborhood, 11 miles southwest of Downtown Houston, according to police.

The husband and father of two went outside just before 12:30 a.m. after being tipped off by a neighbor about a suspicious car on their street.

The family had been on high alert after their car was vandalized the night before, according to KPRC.

Casas was shot multiple times as he confronted the vehicle.

He was left to die outside in the arms of his eight-month pregnant wife, KHOU reported.

Martinez was nabbed by the US Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force on Oct. 17.

He was charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Harris County Jail, police said.

“I know the arrest isn’t going to bring him back, but I’m happy he was arrested,” Casas’ wife Judith Molina told the outlet.

Martinez allegedly had briefly dated Casas’ stepdaughter, but the relationship was ended by the girl after he assaulted and “unlawfully restrained her,” the charges alleged.

A probable cause court judge read Martinez’s charges last week, despite the teen not being in attendance.

“The allegations are that the 17-year-old defendant, briefly dated the, complaining witness is, 16-year-old daughter,” said the judge, according to KHOU. “The daughter stopped seeing this defendant after the defendant assaulted and unlawfully restrained her. The defendant repeatedly called the daughter until she, blocked, the defendant’s, phone number.”

Molina denied that her daughter ever dated Martinez.

“He was just mad that he that she didn’t want to date him. That she wanted to do nothing with him,” Molina said. “So, he was stalking her, stalking our house for days. Which I didn’t know about.”

“I hope he gets what he deserves. Life in prison. He took a life. His life should be for the rest of his life in prison. He shouldn’t be let out,” he said.

The couple’s son was born days after Casa’s funeral.

Casa’s grieving family revealed they were “not at peace,” but has faith in the judge.

“I’m not at peace but I believe the judge is going to do right. … He’s guilty,” Casas’ mother said.

Before Martinez’s off-color gesture to the courtroom, a judge raised his bond from the original $200,000 to $2 million.

Family members of both Martinez and Casas were inside the courtroom.

It wasn’t clear who the air kisses were directed towards.

Source link

Related Topics:arrests courts Featured Houston murders teens texas US News

Click to comment

Texas

Dallas weather: Severe weather expected across North Texas

Published

8 hours ago

June 8, 2025

Press Room

Dallas weather: Severe weather expected across North Texas

DALLAS – North Texas is facing a significant severe weather event Sunday night, with the potential for widespread damaging winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes.

Sunday Forecast

Big picture view:

The primary threat will be powerful, straight-line winds, with gusts potentially reaching 80 to 95 mph as a line of storms moves through the region. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 4 out of 5 “moderate risk” for a large portion of North Texas, indicating the potential for a significant severe weather outbreak.

“This has the potential to be one of the greatest severe weather events that we’ve seen so far this spring, just with that high wind potential,” Capps said. She noted that winds of that magnitude can cause damage equivalent to an EF-0 or EF-1 tornado.

Timeline:

The line of storms is expected to approach northwestern North Texas around 8 p.m. and move into the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex between 10 p.m. and midnight. It is forecast to exit the area to the east and southeast between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Monday.

“The initial storms that move in from the north and west will have that tornado threat, as well as a large hail threat, but wind continues to be the greatest concern,” Capps said. An increasing flood threat is also a concern due to the potential for heavy rainfall.

Live Radar

Earlier Sunday, scattered showers and some thunderstorms were reported in the far eastern and northeastern parts of North Texas, with some storms crossing the Red River producing hail.

Daytime hours on Sunday are expected to be hot and humid before the storms arrive. High temperatures are forecast to reach the low to mid-90s, with a heat index making it feel like 100 to 104 degrees.

The active weather pattern is expected to continue through the week. Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast from Tuesday through Thursday, bringing a continued threat of heavy rain and potential flooding.

7-Day Forecast

Residents are advised to stay weather-aware, have multiple ways to receive warnings, and secure outdoor objects that could become projectiles in high winds.

The Source: Information in this article is from the FOX 4 Weather Team.

Severe WeatherWeatherDallasFort Worth

Source link

Texas

Black bear spotted at North Texas gas station

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2025

Press Room

Black bear spotted at North Texas gas station

SAVOY, Texas – A black bear has been spotted in Fannin County, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials confirm.

Savoy, Texas black bear

What we know:

Video from a gas station in Savoy, about 70 miles north of Dallas, shows the bear running towards the gas pumps and then taking off in the other direction.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists confirmed the sighting.

They say that this time of year, young bears leave their mothers and may end up in unusual places.

What You Should Do:

Black bears are normally not aggressive, but can be.

TPWD says that if you see a black bear you should remain calm and stay far away. They also ask that you should not run away from the bear or try to feed it.

Bears will usually move on from an area if they are given space.

TWPD asks anyone who spots a black bear to report it to their department or the Texas Game Warden.

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Texas Wildlife and Parks Department.

Wild NatureTexasPets and Animals

Source link

Texas

NiJaree Canady Signs Second Seven-Figure NIL Deal with Texas Tech

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2025

Press Room

NiJaree Canady Signs Second Seven-Figure NIL Deal with Texas Tech

The “Million Dollar Arm” may need a new nickname. After signing a historic million-dollar contract last year, Nijaree Canady has inked another seven-figure NIL deal with Texas Tech.

Canady is partnering with Texas Tech’s NIL collective, The Matador Club, and will make $1.2 million in the new deal.

The Red Raider ace has been stellar in the circle this season. She has a nation leading 0.97 ERA and has recorded 317 strikeouts.

Canady’s thrown every pitch during her team’s run in the WCWS.

In game one of the championship series she held Texas to just two earned runs and four hits and seven strkeouts in the 2-1 loss. Canady bounced back in game two only allowing two earned runs on six hits en route to a 4-3 win.

In 2024, she was named USA Softball’s player of the year and was a top three finalist again this season. She spent two seasons at Stanford before transferring to Texas Tech.

Canady has been dominating the headlines, weather it be her performance in the circle or a certain number that’s been repeatedly spoken on the broadcasts. Either way, this is great for women’s sports. It’s bringing attention and ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza is thrilled.

“You can have all kinds of theories about what it’s going to take to bring people to our sport, what will get them excited, get their attention,” Mendoza said. Right now, I’m watching all these men’s sports shows, and they’re talking about softball. This is exactly what we’ve wanted. I’ve been waiting for this.”

Canady and the Red Raiders look to take home their first WCWS title in school history. The winner-take-all game three against Texas is set for Friday night at 7:00pm CT.