An 18-year-old Mission man pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to killing two Mission residents last year after he allegedly crashed into their vehicle as he fled from Border Patrol agents during a smuggling attempt, court records show.
Esteban Cantu Jr. is facing an indictment charging him with two counts of murder, two counts of evading arrest and six counts for smuggling of persons.
Just before noon on Dec. 11, 2021, U.S. Border Patrol agents requested assistance from the Mission Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety while in pursuit of a gray 2009 Ford Escape, which had led agents on a chase.
According to a news release from the Mission Police Department, its officers stopped chasing the vehicle, but Border Patrol continued and troopers took the lead as they headed north on Conway Avenue.
Cantu turned left once he reached 2 Mile Line Road, which is where the crash occurred.
“Upon reaching the intersection of West 2 Mile Line and Holland Road, the suspect vehicle proceeded to enter the intersection failing to yield the right away to a brown in color 2014 Honda passenger car,” the release said.
The Honda was being driven by 59-year-old Carmen Huerta Sosa, of Mission, and her daughter, 22-year-old Viridiana Charon Lloyd, was a passenger.
The crash killed both of them.
Cantu was transporting six undocumented immigrants, three of which were minors, at the time of the crash.
They were all transported to local hospitals for treatment.
Cantu remained jailed Thursday on $1.15 million in bonds.
