On August 14, 2023, the bodies of 66-year-old Lilia Fernandez Ortiz and her son, 43-year-old Alejandro Arrellano-Fernandez, were discovered in their Lewisville, Texas home by a concerned relative who had been unable to contact them. Both victims had suffered gunshot wounds to the head, and authorities believe they had been deceased for several days before being found.
Investigators utilized surveillance footage from a neighbor's security camera, which revealed two men approaching Arrellano-Fernandez outside the residence on August 10. The footage shows the men shoving him to the ground, with one suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Samuel Atinafu Melkamu, drawing a firearm. A struggle ensued off-camera, followed by a brass bullet casing rolling into view. Subsequently, the second suspect, identified as 51-year-old Jawara Oji Black, is seen dragging an unresponsive Arrellano-Fernandez into the home's garage. Inside the house, Fernandez Ortiz was found in the kitchen, suggesting she may have been preparing breakfast at the time of the attack. Both victims appeared to have been executed in a similar manner.
Authorities arrested Melkamu on August 16, charging him with two counts of capital murder. He is currently held in the Denton County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Black was apprehended in Houston on August 21 and faces identical charges. The relationship between the suspects and the victims remains unclear, and investigators have not disclosed a potential motive for the killings.
Neighbors reported that Melkamu was a familiar figure in the community, often performing small jobs and engaging in conversations with residents. Some neighbors mentioned that Melkamu had previously lived at the same home on Ramblewood and had done small jobs for several neighbors, including the new occupant. One witness told police that Melkamu said in July he was owed money for work that had been done.
The tragic deaths of Fernandez Ortiz and her son have left the Lewisville community in shock, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case. Both suspects are facing serious charges and, if convicted, could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
