Edinburg man pleads guilty to kidnapping-turned-murder

Jorge Arredondo

A 23-year-old Edinburg man has admitted to his role in the kidnapping and murder of a 37-year-old man in March 2022.

Jorge Arredondo pleaded guilty on Friday.

He was charged with capital murder for the March 25, 2022 killing of 37-year-old Teodoro Martinez.

The terms of Arredondo’s plea weren’t immediately available in court records. He’s scheduled for sentencing on Monday morning.

Also charged in the case are Nallely Ruby Belmares, 29, Josias Hernandez, 21, and Juan Duenes, 21, all of Edinburg.

They are charged with capital murder and have pleaded not guilty.

The investigation began when Martinez’s body was found in a burning car at approximately 12:23 a.m. near Val Verde and Mile 22 ½ Road in rural Edinburg.

The burning vehicle — a red GMC Envoy — was traced to its last owners, who told investigators they traded the vehicle to a woman who was with a man who said they were “going to make the vehicle disappear.”

Authorities have said previously that Martinez was kidnapped prior to his body being discovered.

Arredondo’s phone records revealed that he was involved in the trade and investigators found video of Arredondo driving by Martinez’s residence and pointing it out to an unknown person.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office said previously that three masked and armed men helped Arredondo in the kidnapping.

Martinez died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Belmares, Hernandez and Duenes are all scheduled for pre-trial hearings in September.

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