Treviño brothers to have separate trials for allegedly killing stepfather

PHARR, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The court has decided that it will try two Pharr brothers, accused of killing their stepfather, separately in the 93rd District Court.

Christian and Alejandro Treviño will have separate jury trials next month. Christian, 20, faces charges of capital murder by terroristic threat and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Alejandro, 22, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Christian and Alejandro Trevino (Hidalgo County Jail records)

The brothers are also joined on an indictment by their friend Juan Eduardo Melendez, 22; he is charged with capital murder by terroristic threat and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

_{Juan Eduardo Melendez (Hidalgo County Jail records)}

As of Thursday, the only one with a set trial date is Christian, who will go before a jury trial on Oct. 27. Alejandro and Melendez are also anticipated to go to trial in October. However, the Hidalgo County district court says a set date has not been submitted.

The three, now men, are accused of killing 43-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla in 2022 after they learned that he was sexually abusing a young relative of theirs.

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.

The three men will have separate trials in the 93rd District Court. ValleyCentral will continue to follow their cases.