Mission man sentenced to life in uncle's murder over roosters

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Hidalgo County jury on Tuesday found a Mission man guilty in the murder of his uncle in 2024.

Aaron Madrid Cervantes, 22, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his uncle, Fernando Madrid, according to a news release from the Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office.

On May 30, 2024, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home off Doffing Road in Mission regarding a man who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Aaron Cervantes was found guilty by a Hidalgo County jury in the May 2024 killing of his uncle. Photo courtesy: Hidalgo County Jail Records.

The victim was found dead inside his bathroom with a trail of blood leading throughout the house, according to deputies.

Testimony revealed that Fernando Madrid, his wife, stepdaughter, and granddaughter awoke around 3:30 a.m. to the sound of dogs barking, and found Cervantes stealing his roosters.

Cervantes shot his uncle in the chest and chased him into the house, shooting him twice more in his arm. Witnesses told deputies they heard Cervantes yell, in Spanish, “I told you not to mess with me!”

When deputies arrived, they found Cervantes, who confessed to killing his uncle.

Additional testimony given said Cervantes had stolen the gun from a person he worked for.

“The jury’s verdict speaks loud and clear to Cervantes and other violent offenders,” said Hidalgo County District Attorney Terry Palacios. “Our community will not tolerate vicious crimes and will hold violators accountable for their actions.”