Illegal immigrant confesses to fatal ‘Castle House’ stabbing
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April 2, 2008 - 6:59PM
Zack Quaintance

EDINBURG - An argument about a wandering dog led to one man stabbing another near a Mercedes home known as the "Castle House," Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said Wednesday.

Miguel Lopez, 23, was arraigned Wednesday on a charge of first-degree felony murder and ordered jailed in lieu of a $1 million bond.

Federal authorities also have placed a hold on the Reynosa man because he is an illegal immigrant.

If Lopez posts bond he will be released to U.S. Border Patrol and held until trial, Treviño said. Lopez faces between five years and life in prison if convicted.

Lopez stabbed Roy N. Hernandez, 51, last week, after the victim's unleashed dog wandered onto the lawn of Lopez's girlfriend, the sheriff said. Deputies arrested Lopez on Tuesday, and he confessed to stabbing Hernandez.

Hernandez died from a stab wound to the back and was pronounced dead in front of a home on the 3400 block of Mesa Circle, where deputies found him slumped in a chair.

Residents call the Mesa Circle home the "Castle House" because of its medieval gates, fortress-style walls and an enormous, cartoon-esque padlock. Hernandez was living alone in the house but did not own it, the sheriff said.

After the killing, investigators canvassed the neighborhood near the intersection of Mile 1 1/2 West and Mile 11 North, collecting witness statements.

Witnesses told deputies the dog wandered onto the lawn on the 5300 block of Mesa Circle, and the two men argued and scuffled there.

Lopez then stabbed Hernandez in the back, Treviño said. Deputies at the scene found a trail of blood along the 125-yard walk between the girlfriend's lawn and the "Castle House." They recovered a 3.5-inch, spring-loaded knife believed to be the weapon used in the killing, Treviño said.

"Complete, senseless murder," he said. "Angry over somebody's dog straying into a yard."

This marks the fifth case the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office has investigated as a murder this year in its jurisdiction. Investigators have made arrests in all five.

Three homicide investigators worked 36 consecutive hours to solve the Hernandez case, the sheriff said. Detectives learned more about the victim during the investigation.

Hernandez lived in the area for several years and was well known, according to the sheriff. Deputies had arrested him many times for public intoxication, and Hernandez was known to often claim he was Jesus Christ.

"Kind of an eccentric individual, but a peaceful individual," the sheriff said.
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Zack Quaintance covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4447.

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