Treviño brother pleads guilty in stepfather's murder case

HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Christian Treviño, one-half of the Treviño brothers accused of killing their stepfather, Gabriel Quintanilla, pleaded guilty to capital murder and aggravated assault charges on Monday.

Christian Trevino was originally scheduled to go on trial Oct. 27 in the 93rd District Court.

Juan Eduardo Melendez, a friend of the brothers, was also in court Monday and waived his right to trial.

This is a developing story.

Background

In 2022, Quintanilla had a warrant out for his arrest for continuous sexual assault of a child, according to Pharr police. Police stated Quintanilla’s alleged history of continuous assault happened between 2014 and 2016 in a separate incident unrelated to the individuals involved in this case.

When relatives, Alejandro and Christian, heard about the abuse, they confronted Quintanilla at the residence, which resulted in a physical fight, police said. Quintanilla then left the residence.

Christian ran after Quintanilla and found him outside an apartment complex down the road by Lyndon and Coyote in Pharr. There, a second assault took place.

Police then say Alejandro and a driver of a red Dodge Charger, identified as Melendez, caught up and joined the assault on Quintanilla.

Later that day, the three teens dropped off Alejandro at his home. After dropping him off, Christian and Melendez saw Quintanilla walking along Veterans Road alone and injured.

The boys beat him for a third time, placed him in the bed of their truck and dropped him off in an open field off Mccoll and Whalen Road. Officials believe he was still alive when he was left at the location.

An investigation revealed Quintanilla was severely beaten with brass knuckles and that he suffered severe head trauma.