In Texas, a murder suspect failed to show up in court on the first day of his trial, claiming it was due to a severe accident, but the victim's family is skeptical and fears he might be trying to escape justice.
Relatives of the 16-year-old victim, Diamond Alvarez, are not convinced by Frank Deleon Jr.'s explanation for his absence, as reported by Houston NBC affiliate KPRC. During a press conference, the victim's aunt, Blanca Mejia, expressed doubts, saying, "Frank Deleon, you can't run forever, man."
Deleon's attorney, Joaquin Jimenez, insisted that his client did have an accident but did not provide specific details. He said, "Frank is ok. He is not running. There was an incident this morning that will be explained tomorrow morning to Judge Jones." Multiple sources have referred to it as a car accident.
The defendant, who was 17 at the time and is now 19, is accused of shooting Alvarez 22 times because she discovered he had been unfaithful to her. Allegedly, he wanted to ensure she didn't reveal the truth to another girl, repeatedly texting her, "Don't ruin this for me."
Deleon reportedly lured Alvarez for a private conversation at a park near her home while she was walking the family dog. However, gunshots were heard by her family, and she was later found fatally wounded in a field. Prosecutors have previously stated that most of her wounds were consistent with her being on her back when shot.
According to authorities, two witnesses described seeing someone matching Deleon's description in the area after the murder. When arrested, he was found with a packed suitcase, which the state argued was evidence of his intention to flee.
Alvarez's family is deeply frustrated by the delay in seeking justice due to Deleon's absence in court. Deleon's attorney claimed that he had been in an accident on his way to court and had sustained a significant injury, possibly requiring medical care. As a result, the judge forfeited his $250,000 bond and issued an arrest warrant.
Mejia remains skeptical, saying, "I want pictures. I want hospital bills. I want everything that this man is indeed hurt. I need everybody on it because this is unfair. I'm livid. It's been two years too long, and he's still free." She fears that Deleon may attempt to escape if he's not handcuffed to a hospital bed.
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