Texas
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.
Texas
Central Texas soldier dies in Iraq during training incident, Department of Defense says
The overseas death of a U.S. Army soldier from Central Texas is under investigation, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday.
Sgt. Devin A. Seibel, 26, of the Waco suburb of Robinson, died Sunday in a “training‑related incident” at Erbil Airbase in Iraq, officials said.
According to the department, Seibel was an active‑duty soldier supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition campaign launched in June 2014 to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.
Seibel was assigned to the Air Ambulance Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, in Fort Carson, Colo.
The department didn’t release any additional information.
CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Texas
National Democrats aim to flip 12 Texas House seats under newly expanded target list
Texas
3 things to watch as Texas, Texas Tech begin Women's College World Series Final
No. 1 seed Texas (51-12, 16-8 in SEC play) and No. 3 seed Texas Tech (61-8, 21-3 in the Big 12) begin their three-game series at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday in Oklahoma City. Each
-
South Dakota2 minutes agoTornado watch in effect as severe storms target South Dakota
-
Tennessee5 minutes agoTennessee Baseball Breakout Star Announces He Won’t Enter the Transfer Portal
-
Texas11 minutes agoCentral Texas soldier dies in Iraq during training incident, Department of Defense says
-
Utah18 minutes agoNew program at University of Utah aims to keep up with growing Utah industry
-
Vermont20 minutes agoVermont seeks dynamic pricing for state park access
-
Virginia25 minutes agoWest Virginia commit announces decision by blasting ‘Country Roads,’ lighting a couch on fire
-
Washington32 minutes agoSteelers Sign TE Darnell Washington to Four-Year Extension
-
Wisconsin36 minutes agoWisconsin DNR reminding ATV and UTV drivers that more wardens will be out this weekend