Gabriel Quintanilla: 3 teens murder stepdad for alleged sexual abuse of 9-yr-old sister

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As of January 25, the three teens are being held at Hidalgo County jail on a series of charges, as Pharr Police continue to investigate the case. "There's more questions out there and that's something that we're still looking into," Pharr police Chief Andy Harvey said during a press conference on January 25.

Who is Gabriel Quintanilla?

Little is known about the 42-year-old, who was the victim of the attack. Pharr PD noted that he was wanted on charges of child sexual abuse, but ran away back in 2019. Those charges stemmed from another minor, who came forward to claim she was sexually abused by Quintanilla several times between 2014 and 2016. A warrant for his arrest has been active ever since, and Pharr PD was constantly searching for him.

"The detectives went out to look for Quintanilla at that time and were unable to find him," Harvey said during the presser, adding, "They searched his last known residence, they went to his mother's residence multiple times." Since that 2019 warrant was issued, the police lost Quintanilla's trace and never heard about him again until his dead body turned up in a field in McAllen on January 20.

Investigations revealed he was beaten with brass knuckles and suffered severe head trauma, which sparked an investigation that led Pharr PD to the Trevino brothers and Melendez. It is believed the Trevino brothers first confronted Quintanilla at a trailer park, which led to a physical altercation, following which the 42-year-old fled. He was then found outside an apartment residence, where a second assault occurred.

Melendez, who is a friend of the brothers then caught up with the two, and they left the complex. The trio returned a while later in a white Ford F-150 and found an injured Quintanilla walking alone. He was then severely beaten for the third time, placed on the truck's bed, and dropped off in the McAllen field alive. Police are investigating if the brothers' mother also played a role in the incident. It's unclear who she is, but Harvey did note, "That's still all part of the open investigation and that's certainly a question that we had."

Christian Trevino and Juan Eduardo Melendez were charged with capital murder, aggravated assault, and engaging in criminal activity. Alejandro Trevino was charged with aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. All three are being held on a bond of  $500,000. It's unclear what happened to the nine-year-old and if she has been taken in by family, or in the custody of the state.