Francisco Sierra, a 20-year-old Hispanic male, was found dead in his bedroom on February 5, 2016, in San Marcos, Texas. Sierra had moved to San Marcos to attend Texas State University and was living with three roommates at the time of his death. According to the arrest affidavit, Sierra's roommate, Esaia Morris, claimed that they were discussing suicide when Sierra attempted to suffocate Morris with a pillow. Morris stated that he fought back, pulled a gun, and shot Sierra in self-defense.
However, Sierra's family and detectives questioned this account, as evidence suggested that Sierra was shot while he was sleeping.
Morris, who was 21 years old at the time, initially called the police to report finding Sierra dead. During police questioning, Morris confessed to the shooting and led officers to the location where he had disposed of the murder weapon. The gun was recovered from a pond near Morris' workplace. Morris was charged with first-degree murder and held on a $1 million bond.
In an exclusive jailhouse interview, Morris claimed that the shooting was an act of self-defense following an unwanted sexual advance from Sierra. Morris stated that he had obtained the gun for protection, as he did not know his roommates well. Despite his confession, Morris maintained that he did not kill Sierra in cold blood and expressed remorse for the loss of life.
The case went to trial, and Morris was found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison. The jury heard conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the shooting, with some evidence suggesting that Morris had initiated the encounter and acted aggressively towards Sierra. Ultimately, the jury concluded that Morris was responsible for Sierra's death and handed down a lengthy prison sentence.
