Jury finds man guilty on lesser charge in murder trial for starving boy

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man charged in the death of a 13-year-old was found guilty on a lesser charge by a jury.

Ruben Gonzalez who was facing a charge of murder, was found guilty of a lesser charge of criminal negligent homicide. He was found guilty on one count of injury to a child and not guilty to the three additional counts levied against him.

The verdict came after seven hours of deliberation.

Through the five days of the trial, jurors heard family, friends and teachers of 13-year-old Jesse Harrison.

Harrison died in January 2021 after he was found struggling to breathe by his grandmother.

His mother Sabrina Loredo and grandmother Antonia Gonzalez, who are also set to go to trial in Harrison’s death, invoked their Fifth Amendment right on Monday when called to testify. Ruben is Antonia’s boyfriend and lived at the home with the two women and children.

The State argued that the trio abused Harrison, failed to provide adequate medical care and restricted his access to food.

Ruben’s defense claimed that Harrison died from a sepsis infection, and that Ruben was not directly responsible for the actions allegedly taken by the group.

Earlier in the week, Harrison’s teacher testified that the boy would ask for other students breakfast due to his hunger, and on one instance, went as far as to sneak in the room where the food was stored.

Harrison’s friend from school echoed this statement. The boy said that the two had an emotional conversation, where Harrison said if he were to die, he would watch over him.

The State showed jurors video from Harrison’s Zoom class, where he appeared disoriented and was unable to speak coherently.

Last week, photos taken by a nurse at Valley Baptist Medical Center provided a glimpse of Harrison’s condition. His vertebrae, collarbones, ribs and hip bones were visible. He had abrasions throughout his body, with a purple stain from a Mexican medication that was given to him by the family.

Loredo and Antonia are scheduled to go to trial in October.