CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Tristen Silguero plead guilty to the 2020 murder of an elderly Kingsville man Monday morning.
Silguero was 17 years old when he and two other suspects were arrested for the fatal stabbing of 65-year-old Jacinto Obregon. Police said Obregon was cleaning a car in his driveway in October 2020 when Silguero and another man attempted to rob him and stabbed him before running off. Obregon's wife called the police when she heard him yelling from the driveway.
Silguero was originally charged with capital murder but plead guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement. He will have to serve at least half of the sentence before being eligible for parole. Now 20 years old, Silguero was sentenced to 40 years in prison in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Authorities believe that another teenager, Omar Valdez also took part in that fatal knife attack.
A third teenager, Raul Garcia from Houston and Long Beach, California, is believed to have orchestrated the entire crime.
Authorities said all three men are self-admitted members of a criminal street gang.
The family of the 65-year-old victim Jacinto Obregon was in attendance at the Kingsville courtroom Monday morning.
Obregon's widow, Dalia Obregon spoke briefly through tears while delivering her victim impact statement.
"My husband was brutally attacked on October 5th of 2020," she said. "He went out to wash the car and he never came back in because he was attacked in our driveway by two people."
Retha Cable with the District Attorney's office then began reading the statement on Obregon's behalf. The statement recounted the morning Jacinto Obregon was stabbed by Silguero and another man. It spoke about the lasting impact on Obregon and her children, who she says struggle with trauma as a result of their father's killing.
The statement said that Obregon's last words to his wife as she tried to stop his bleeding were 'It hurts.'
Jacinto Obregon was HALO-flighted to Corpus Christi. He died while on the flight.
In closing, Dalia Obregon's statement promised to contest Silguero's potential release from prison as the years go on.
"When the time comes for your parole hearing, I will be there to contest your release," she said. "And if I am no longer living, I know my children, my grandchildren will be there to do the same."
The victim's son, Eloy Obregon — who was said in Dalia Obregon's statement to have been home when Silguero and another man stabbed his father — got up and stared down the suspect before saying "God bless you."
John Hubert, the DA for Kleberg County said the other two suspects in the case are pending trial for their involvement. He explained that because Silguero was 17 when he was being charged with Capital Murder, the death penalty was automatically waived.
Although the case is not fully wrapped up, Hubert said it felt it felt good to make some progress, but he knows it will not give the family their loved one back.
"It's good to have some type of justice given to the family," Hubert said.
"The one thing they want is the one thing we can't give them, which is for their family member to come back."
More from 3News on KIIITV.com:
- Local woman looks back on 2023 Coastal Bend weather with crochet temperature blanket
- Meet Jaxton, the first baby of 2024 at CHRISTUS Spohn South!
- Family, friends remember the life of Amethyst Silva with special vigil
- TOOL to perform at the American Bank Center in January
- Beach permits for 2024 are now available for purchase
- These major events shaped 2023
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for your daily news and exclusive extended interviews.
Do you have a news tip? Tell 3!
Email tell3@kiiitv.com so we can get in touch with you about your story should we have questions or need more information. We realize some stories are sensitive in nature. Let us know if you'd like to remain anonymous