Man wanted for McAllen machete killing arrested

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man wanted for murder in connection to a machete killing in McAllen has been arrested.

Hector Neptaly Reyes Mendoza was arrested on one count of murder in connection to the death of 47-year-old Jose Edgardo Sorto.

_{Hector Reyes (Hidalgo County Jail)}

At 8:45 p.m. on June 5, McAllen police responded to the 2000 block of Houston Avenue in reference to a welfare concern. According to police, Sorto lived at the location, but had not been seen for two days.

The following day, detectives responded again and detected the odor of a decomposing body coming from one of the rooms, a probable cause affidavit stated. Detectives spoke with Mario Nelson Amaya, who at first said he knew how the victim had been killed.

_{Mario Nelson Amaya (McAllen Police Department)}

He was interviewed a second time, where he said he never made the initial statement. The affidavit claims that Amaya knew that Sorto was killed with a machete, but denied knowing it with intent to deceive the detective.

Amaya told police that he had not spoken with the suspect since June 4, but a search of his phone showed that he had called him on June 5. Detectives searched Amaya's vehicle, which showed evidence in the backseat that may have been tied to the investigation.

Amaya was arrested and arraigned on June 8 on charges of false report to a police officer, and police continued searching for Reyes Mendoza.

^{Crime scene covered in tape. (Photo taken by Derick Garcia)}

Records show that Reyes Mendoza was arrested by McAllen police and booked into the Hidalgo County Jail on Sunday. His bond was set at $1,000,000.