Teen Brothers Charged After Beating Stepfather To Death For Molesting Sister

Two teenage brothers have been charged in Texas for allegedly beating their stepfather, who was accused of sexually abusing their sister, to death. A friend of the boys is also facing charges in connection with the incident.

Alexandro and Christian Trevino, aged 18 and 17, and their friend, Juan Eduardo Melendez, 18, were taken into custody after Gabriel Quintanilla, 42, was found dead in an open field in McAllen last Thursday. The McAllen Police Department handed over the investigation to Pharr police, CBS 4 News Rio Grande Valley reported.

The teens launched an attack against Quintanilla after a 9-year-old girl claimed that the man inappropriately touched her at an RV park in Pharr. The girl was later identified as Quintanilla's daughter, police said.

"When brothers Alexandro and Christian Trevino found out, they became enraged and confronted Gabriel Quintanilla at the residence. A physical fight ensued between the three and the victim Quintanilla left [the] location on foot," police said, as per The Monitor.

Christian allegedly chased his stepfather to an apartment complex, where a second attack took place.

"A second assault occurs there when Alexandro Trevino and a driver of a red Dodge Charger, Juan Eduardo Melendez, catch up and join the assault toward the victim," police added.

Authorities said the teens left the scene and then drove back in another vehicle to find an injured Quintanilla walking by himself. It was then that a third assault occurred.

Quintanilla was beaten with brass knuckles and suffered severe head trauma. He was placed in a truck and transported to an open field in McAllen. Authorities believe he may have still been alive when the teens abandoned him, KRGV reported.

"This investigation was complex having multiple scenes. I am proud of how our detectives were able to put the pieces together in such a short time," Pharr police Chief Andy Harvey noted in a statement, according to the outlet.

The teens were arraigned on Jan. 23. Alexandro was charged with aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. Meanwhile, Christian and Melendez were charged with capital murder, aggravated assault and engaging in criminal activity. Melendez is also facing an additional charge of possession of marijuana.

Alexandro was not charged with capital murder because the fatal blows were dealt by the two other teenagers, Deputy Chief Juan Gonzalez said.

According to authorities, Quintanilla was also involved in another case for continuous sexual assault of a child.