A pastor in Conroe faces a felony charge for allegedly hiding an SUV connected to a deadly hit-and-run. Police say he stored the vehicle in a closed garage while investigators were looking for it. Three people have been arrested in connection with the crash that killed a 46-year-old man earlier this month.
How the case unfolded
On November 9, around 7 p.m., Conroe police were called to a crash in the 200 block of North Loop 336 East, where they found 46-year-old Brett Wilborn dead in the roadway. Investigators from the Conroe Police Department determined that Wilborn had been hit by two separate vehicles: a dark SUV that fled the scene and a second vehicle that remained, as per Woodlands Online.
The department's Traffic Incident Reconstruction Unit later identified a suspect SUV. Working with the district attorney’s office, officers tracked the vehicle to a residence in the 600 block of Phyllis Court last friday, where they say they found a 2017 burgundy Chevrolet Suburban parked inside a closed garage. Police also located the driver and a passenger at the home.
Arrests and accusations
According to Click2Houston, police arrested 35-year-old Stephan Santeli Castro and 61-year-old Angelica Flores. Castro was booked on a charge of failure to stop and render aid, while Flores was charged with failure to report a felony. Investigators also arrested 34-year-old pastor Juan Murillo Wilson on a charge of tampering with physical evidence, alleging he helped hide the Suburban that officers say was used in the hit-and-run.
What the charges carry under Texas law
Under Texas law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in death can be prosecuted as a second-degree felony, with a possible prison sentence of two to 20 years and fines up to $10,000. The state’s Transportation Code outlines drivers' responsibilities after a collision and the stiffer penalties when someone is killed; see the relevant state Statutes.
Tampering with or concealing physical evidence is typically a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison. Failing to report a felony can be charged as a Class A misdemeanor. Those offenses are detailed in Penal Code 37.09 and Section 38.171.
Investigation status and next steps
The Conroe Police Department says the investigation is still active. Detectives interviewed multiple people while coordinating with the district attorney's office, and the agency noted that several units had to work together to track down the suspect SUV and tie it to the crash.
Police offered condolences to Wilborn’s family and said no additional details would be released for now while the investigation continues. The department has not announced court dates or further procedural steps in the case yet.
Police ask for tips
Investigators are still asking for the public's help. If you have information about the crash or the suspected vehicle, Conroe police are urging you to contact their traffic unit. As previously reported by Click2Houston, tips can be submitted to the department's traffic unit at 936-522-3451 or emailed to Sgt. J. Herrera at [email protected].
