Harris County has been rocked by a grisly Christmas morning crime that ended in flames and a murder charge. FOX 26 Houston reports that 44-year-old Ernesto Bustamante stands accused of homicide and tampering with evidence after an altercation with 25-year-old Juan Francisco Benitez turned deadly. The victim was found shot in the back of a burning pickup truck on a Thursday morning.
According to the KHOU 11 article, Sheriff's deputies responded to the 1100 block of Fellows Road around 4:10 a.m. for a vehicle fire. After quelling the flames, Benitez's body was discovered in the truck. Details emerged following Ernesto's arrest, suggesting the two men were at Ernesto’s home before the argument ensued.
New details released by the Harris County Sheriff's Office reveal that the encounter between the friends turned violent, leading to the alleged shooting. Authorities claim that following the shooting, Bustamante transferred Benitez’s body to the truck, drove it to a wooded area on Fellows Road, and then set the vehicle alight. The horrendous crime scene drew significant attention, prompting an accelerated investigation.
In the days following the incident, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez took to social media, announcing that Bustamante was in custody. He was arrested on Friday and booked into the Harris County Jail where he faces a first-degree murder charge and a count of tampering with evidence, as reported by KHOU 11. While authorities have shared considerable detail on the crime, the bond for Bustamante has not yet been set, leaving a palpable tension hanging in the air as this case evolves.
