State to decide if they’ll seek death penalty against Peñitas double homicide suspect
Prosecutors will decide in August if a suspect charged in connection with the deaths of two people whose bodies were found burned beyond recognition in a vehicle in Peñitas will face the death penalty.
Pedro Ismael Garcia pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of capital murder of multiple persons.
“Two choices. Death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, period,” District Judge Noe Gonzalez told Garcia during the arraignment.
As previously reported, a total of six suspects were arrested in connection with the deaths of Mario Morales Jr. and Maria Del Socorro Farias.
Four men — Garcia, Juan Antonio Alvarado, Ricardo Gonzalez Jr. and Alejandro Lopez — were arrested on capital murder charges. Two women — Amanda Solis and Triana Gonzalez — were arrested on charges of tampering with evidence.
The bodies were found on Feb. 3 in a burned vehicle by Peñitas firefighters on 4 Mile Line between Tom Gill and Circle 6 roads.
An autopsy said both victims died of “homicidal violence with gunshot wounds,” a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 5 News said.
The indictment against the men said they shot the victims. The men are all being held without bond.
Deputies with the sheriff’s office arrested the women after they were caught burning evidence linked to the investigation, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
The women told investigators Morales was severely beaten by Gonzalez and Garcia at Gonzalez’s apartment. According to the complaint, Solis said Ricardo Gonzalez “admitted to killing Maria the day of the vehicle fire.”
A witness also identified Garcia as the driver of a suspect vehicle authorities said was spotted at the scene of the burned vehicle.
“Pedro also admitted to this same witness to killing two people and burning their bodies,” the complaint said.
A pretrial hearing for Garcia was set for Aug. 3
Hidalgo County court records show Gonzalez waived his arraignment on Tuesday and had a pretrial hearing set for July 6.
Alvarado pleaded not guilty to the charge on May 18 and had a pretrial hearing set for July 1.
Lopez is set to be arraigned on June 2.
Hidalgo County jail records indicate the female suspects are out on bond.
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