Homicide Detectives in Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas (HCSOTexas) have arrested Ernesto Bustamante as a suspect in the murder of 25-year-old Juan Francisco Benitez.
Ernesto, aged 44, was arrested on Wednesday, December 24, by HCSO District 3 deputies, booked in the Harris County jail, and charged with murder and tampering with evidence.
HCSOTexas deputies were said to have responded to the 1000 block of Fellows Road, in reference to a vehicle fire near a wooded area, and on getting to the scene, they put out the fire.
Close observation by the deputies had revealed the deceased body of an unknown make.
In a post on the X handle of Ed Gonzalez, the Harris County Sheriff, Thenewsbearer gathered that investigation by detectives revealed that the victim, Benitez, and Ernesto, while hanging out at the suspect’s residence, got into an argument that ended with Ernesto allegedly shooting Benitez.
“Ernesto then loaded Benitez in a truck and transported him to the wooded area on Fellows Road, where the truck was set on fire with Benitez’ body still inside.
“The follow-up investigation remains ongoing,” the Sheriff’s post read.
In an update, the HCSOTexas Homicide Detectives arrested Ernesto’s son, Santiago Bustamante, aged 17, for allegedly assisting his father with moving the victim’s body to the location on Fellows Road.
Santiago was charged with tampering with evidence (a human corpse) and booked in the Harris County Jail after his arrest by members of the Violent Criminals Apprehension Team (VCAT).
