On May 24, 2019, Jose Manuel Valles-Santos, a 27-year-old Hispanic male, was found dead in the parking lot of the Days Inn located at 2155 North 11th Street in Beaumont, Texas. Valles-Santos was leaving the motel on his way to work when he was approached by De’marcus Micah Williams, a 19-year-old African American male from Port Arthur. An argument ensued, during which Williams shot Valles-Santos and stole his truck.
The incident was captured on the motel's security cameras.
The Beaumont Police Department responded to the scene at approximately 5:58 AM, where they discovered Valles-Santos' body and a wrecked vehicle. Officers learned that Valles-Santos had been in the parking lot, preparing to leave for work, when Williams attempted to rob him at gunpoint. After the argument, Williams shot Valles-Santos and fled the scene in the stolen truck. The stolen vehicle was later found at the intersection of St. Helena and Gill, where officers spotted a man matching the suspect's description walking nearby. Williams, who had a gun in his hand, attempted to flee from the officers but was eventually apprehended.
Williams was arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the death of Valles-Santos. He was also charged with aggravated robbery and evading arrest. Williams was taken to the Jefferson County Correctional Center, where his bond was set at $5 million for the capital murder charge and $1 million for the aggravated robbery charge, totaling $6 million.
In June 2019, Williams was indicted on capital murder charges for the death of Valles-Santos. He was also indicted on charges of aggravated robbery and evading arrest related to a separate incident in September 2018, where he robbed and injured a woman outside a movie theater in Beaumont. Williams later entered into a plea agreement with the state, pleading guilty to the lesser-included offense of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison for the 2019 murder of Valles-Santos and 20 years for the 2018 aggravated robbery. Williams must serve at least 30 years of his life sentence before being eligible for parole.
