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Three teenagers pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon to murder charges for the shooting death of a 53-year-old man in late January that occurred while they were allegedly committing burglaries.
Carlos Macias, an 18-year-old Mission resident, Amador Sandoval IV, a 17-year-old McAllen resident, and Sandra Morales, an 18-year-old McAllen resident, are all charged with murder for the death of McAllen resident Rosendo Benitez, who was shot multiple times, according to probable cause affidavits.
A Hidalgo County grand jury indicted the trio on April 19.
Morales is also facing five burglary charges, and a juvenile was also charged with murder in the case. The identity of the juvenile has not been released by police and records related to allegations of crimes against minors are not publicly available.
The shooting happened in the 1600 block of North 29th Street about 11 p.m. on Jan. 27.
Police first arrested Macias, who was charged with stealing the suspect vehicle, a 2018 Ford Fusion, and he implicated Morales and the male juvenile, according to police.
“Detectives later located Sandra and two males,” the affidavit stated.
Investigators say all of the suspects implicated themselves in the murder.
“Sandra provided details to the Murder that would only (have) been known by someone who was directly involved in the case,” the affidavit said.
According to investigators, Amador claimed they were trying to commit burglaries when the murder happened, and a cellphone extraction and surveillance video corroborated his story.
All three remain jailed in the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center, with Macias being held on $770,000 in bonds; Sandoval on $255,000 in bonds; and Morales on a $250,000 bond.
