In a chilling incident that unfolded in a suburban park in Texas, three teenagers now find themselves facing a slew of serious felony charges connected to the tragic discovery of a deceased teenager. The victim's lifeless body was carelessly concealed after a planned robbery took a horrific turn.
As the scheme went awry, the young culprits hastily fled the scene, realizing the gravity of their actions, according to a criminal complaint.
The trio of young individuals at the center of this disturbing case consists of Jeanette Lea Clifton (18), Serenity Delgado (17), and Cruz Isaiah Martinez (18). All three now stand accused of one count each of capital murder in connection to the death of Nathaniel Navarro, aged 19. The heart-wrenching incident occurred at Satsuma Park in Pasadena on November 2, when Navarro's life came to a tragic end.
Navarro's mother, driven by concern for her son, traced his cellphone to the park that fateful night, where her worst fears were confirmed. She promptly alerted the Pasadena Police Department.
Court documents, obtained by Law&Crime, reveal that multiple witnesses have provided harrowing details surrounding the fatal gun violence that unfolded in Harris County's second-largest city.
One witness wasted no time and immediately reported a shooting on the same night Navarro's lifeless body was discovered. The witness recounted hearing multiple gunshots followed by a car crashing into a tree.
Afterward, two individuals were seen carrying a body to the corner of the park, according to the detailed criminal complaint against Clifton. The reporting officer noted a damaged 2008 Cadillac in the parking lot, with traces of blood outside the vehicle, along with a nearby spent cartridge casing.
In a subsequent interview, the first witness mentioned hearing three gunshots before the car crash. They described witnessing two individuals standing outside the black Cadillac, who later got inside the vehicle, drove it through the parking lot, and eventually carried what they initially believed to be car parts. Tragically, those presumed "car parts" turned out to be Navarro's lifeless body.
The two individuals then proceeded to remove smaller items from the car before leaving the park.
Surveillance footage further illuminates the sequence of events, capturing three individuals entering the park at 1:13 a.m., followed by Navarro's arrival at 1:33 a.m. Gunshots rang out shortly after, and Navarro's car accelerated, colliding with a tree. Subsequently, the three individuals departed from the area.
Notably, separate surveillance footage shows one of the three defendants entering the park carrying a shovel. Clifton, on the other hand, was captured in a third piece of surveillance footage at a gas station, with blood on her face and clothes, wearing a hoodie.
Her presence at the gas station was flagged following a woman's account of her interaction with Clifton, who had requested a ride to La Porte. However, due to a shortage of fuel, the driver declined, and Clifton reportedly exited the vehicle.
Shortly before midnight on November 2, Clifton voluntarily turned herself in to the police, according to the complaint. She allegedly confessed to being in the company of her friend, Delgado, and Delgado's ex-boyfriend, Cruz, at the time of the fatal incident.
Clifton recounted that Cruz had shot the man in the black car when it approached them in the park. She mentioned fleeing and scaling a chain-link fence, which resulted in injuries and blood on her face and clothes. Later, her friends spotted her while she was walking, and she re-entered the Ford truck driven by Cruz.
The other two suspects were apprehended prior to Clifton's surrender. Clifton's decision to come forward earned her two days of freedom before facing incarceration.
During the investigation, police interviews with Delgado led to the belief that the three teenagers had collaborated in planning to rob Navarro of his drugs, money, and car, as indicated in the criminal complaint.
In a subsequent interview, Clifton allegedly confessed to playing a more direct role in the incident, disclosing that she had been informed about the robbery plan a day earlier during breakfast. Her assigned task was to bring a shovel to dig a hole and bury the victim after the robbery and murder. She was also instructed to collect shell casings at the scene.
The night before the crime, one of the defendants contacted Navarro on social media to arrange a drug deal, asking to purchase marijuana. Delgado paid for the drugs using counterfeit money, after which Cruz fatally shot Navarro. The plan to steal Navarro's car was abandoned due to the damage sustained during the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Delgado's mother played a pivotal role in the case. She turned Cruz and Delgado over to the police in Houston after they allegedly confided in her about their actions, revealing that they used a Smith & Wesson 40 owned by Delgado's mother.
Delgado disclosed that her ex-boyfriend, Cruz, had been discussing the idea of robbing Navarro for several days, with the plan ultimately taking shape just the day before the tragic incident.
In various interviews with law enforcement, Cruz and Delgado ultimately confessed to their involvement. Initially, Cruz was reticent and declined to speak, but eventually, all three teenagers waived their Miranda rights and corroborated various details shared by one another.
Clifton, Delgado, and Cruz are also facing additional charges of tampering with evidence related to a human corpse, as indicated in Harris County court records reviewed by Law&Crime. Clifton faces an extra charge of tampering with or fabricating evidence with the intent to hinder an investigation. Notably, Martinez was on pre-trial release for DUI and unlawful possession of a firearm when Navarro's tragic murder occurred.
These defendants are scheduled to appear in court for further proceedings and are currently detained in the Harris County Jail. Prosecutors have requested court orders to ensure their separation.
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