Hernandez III

A grand jury has indicted a 36-year-old Pharr man on charges of capital murder of a person under 10 years old, murder and injury to a child.

Ubence Ruben Hernandez is accused of killing 1-year-old Julius Flores, who he was babysitting while the child’s mother went to the store.

The Donna Police Department arrested the man on Oct. 7, 2020 and allege Hernandez broke the infant’s spine “due to blunt force trauma” on Sept. 22 of that year at a residence in the 3700 block of East Business 83 in Donna.

When Hernandez appeared before Donna Municipal Judge Javier Garza, he denied the charges, saying “Man, I didn’t do this s—, bro,” while sobbing.

Police, however, say he agreed to a voluntary interview and confessed.

Police also arrested Hernandez on Nov. 19, alleging that on Sept. 22, the same day the child died, that Hernandez pointed a gun at a woman named Patricia Ann Garces.

That complaint does not disclose the relationship between Hernandez and Garces.

He faces a charge of deadly conduct over the allegation.

As for the capital murder charge, if convicted, Hernandez could face life in prison or the death sentence, should the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office choose to pursue it.

Hernandez, who remains jailed on a $750,000 bond, is scheduled for arraignment on Feb. 10.