Marcelino Guerra, a 50-year-old man from Ben Bolt, Texas, was tragically found dead on October 20, 2015, near County Road 464. He was discovered alongside Robert Mata, aged 53, both of whom were victims of a violent attack while cutting brush in South Texas. The Jim Wells County Sheriff's Department initiated an investigation into the double homicide the following day after receiving a 911 call about a vehicle fire on nearby County Road 148. The vehicle, which belonged to Guerra, was found ablaze about 15 miles away in San Diego.
The investigation revealed that Guerra and Mata were attacked by a group of individuals, leading to their deaths. Two months after the incident, Michael Castro and Andres Garza were arrested on suspicion of multiple charges, including capital murder, aggravated robbery, arson, and engaging in organized criminal activity. The suspects were linked to the crime scene through evidence, including a cellphone belonging to one of the victims found several miles away.
In January 2016, Garza was indicted on charges of aggravated robbery, arson, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, while Castro faced similar charges along with capital murder. Both were involved in a robbery at a Sutherland's store the day after the murders, where they allegedly pointed a firearm at a store representative and set a vehicle on fire. Garza eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and received a 50-year prison sentence for each count, to be served concurrently. He also received a 25-year sentence for aggravated robbery in a separate case. Castro, on the other hand, remained in jail without eligibility for release.
The tragic deaths of Marcelino Guerra and Robert Mata left a lasting impact on their families and the community, who remembered them at a memorial service held near the site where they were found. The case highlighted the importance of community resilience and the pursuit of justice in the face of such devastating events.
