Hidalgo County releases photo of man wanted for manslaugher

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office has released a photo of a man wanted in connection with a manslaughter in Mission.

Investigators are searching for 32-year-old Jose Maximiliano Flores, who has an active warrant for reportedly beating 31-year-old Christian Castillo multiple times with a wooden board.

Castillo, whose body was lifeless on the roadway after the alleged beating, was also reportedly run over by a blue Chevrolet Silverado unrelated to the manslaughter.

Authorities say the owner of a blue Chevrolet Silverado, who was sought by the sheriff's office and DPS, called authorities to report that a family member had been driving the vehicle at the time of the incident.

The driver told authorities he was reportedly unaware that a man had been hit and contacted law enforcement after seeing media coverage of the investigation.

Background

At approximately 8:52 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, deputies responded to an assault, later classified as manslaughter, on Minnesota Road, south of Mile 5 Road in Mission on Sunday.

At the scene, the responding deputies found a man’s body, later identified as Castillo from Mission, lying on the roadway.

According to the release, witnesses reported to deputies that Castillo was being followed by a Chevrolet HHR, which police suspect was occupied by at least two men.

The suspects exited the vehicle, and one of them hit Castillo multiple times with a wooden board, causing him to fall to the ground, the release stated.

While Castillo was on the roadway, he was hit by a blue Chevrolet Silverado going southbound.

According to HCSO, Silverado was unrelated to the earlier assault and left the scene without stopping.

Source: Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

DPS was called to the scene to help with the crash reconstruction aspect of the investigation. Hidalgo County investigators and crime scene specialists arrived at the location where they interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence that helped identify the suspects.

The investigation revealed that the suspect’s vehicle was registered to the victim’s wife, who had previously filed an assault report against Castillo that evening.

Deputies later found the suspect’s vehicle and a wooden board with apparent blood stains inside near the intersection of Minnesota Road and Mile 5 Road.

During the course of the investigation, deputies identified the driver of the HHR as Armenta, who is the boyfriend of the victim’s wife.

According to investigators, Armenta admitted to being present at the scene along with the second suspect, identified as Flores, who hit Castillo with the board.

Armenta was arrested on charges of manslaughter. Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer told ValleyCentral that investigators have issued an arrest warrant against Flores.

Armenta appeared in court on Tuesday and was formally charged with manslaughter. He was issued a total bond of $250,000.

HCSO has issued an active arrest warrant against Flores on charges of manslaughter.

HSCO investigators anticipate more arrests related to this case.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at (956) 383-8114 or the Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers at (956) 668-TIPS (8477).