A suspect is in custody for the murder of Juan Francisco Benitez, whose body was found in a burned vehicle after an argument turned fatal, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a suspect in connection with a deadly vehicle fire discovered early Thursday morning in south Harris County.
Deputies were initially called to a vehicle fire shortly after 4 a.m. near a wooded area along Fellows Road, close to the Beltway and State Highway 288. After firefighters extinguished the flames, deputies found the body of a man in the back seat of the vehicle. Investigators later determined the victim had been shot.
On Saturday, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez posted to social media that the victim has been identified as Juan Francisco Benitez, 25.
A follow-up investigation by HCSO homicide detectives led to the identification of Ernesto Bustamante, 44, as a suspect in the case, according to Gonzalez. Bustamante was arrested Friday by HCSO District 3 deputies and booked into the Harris County Jail. He is charged with murder and tampering with evidence.
According to investigators, Benitez and Bustamante were hanging out at Bustamante’s home when an argument broke out. Authorities say the argument escalated, and Bustamante allegedly shot Benitez.
Detectives say Bustamante then loaded Benitez into a truck, drove him to the wooded area on Fellows Road, and set the vehicle on fire with Benitez’s body still inside.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-221-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
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