A Texas man was arrested on Monday, two days after his father was found murdered in his home.
KDBC reported that on Saturday, Victor Contreras, 74, was found disembowled, with stab wounds, and with a slit throat at his El Paso home. Contreras’ older son went to the residence after not hearing from him for more than a week.
The older son reportedly entered the home through an opened bedroom window as the front door was locked. After smelling rotting flesh, the son discovered Contreras with head trauma, his legs crossed, and a sheet on top of him. He also noticed his slain father’s car was missing, according to KDBC.
The older son told police that Contreras lived with his younger brother, Jaime Contreras, 39. The older son said he sent multiple messages to his younger brother, but he did not respond.
Victor’s daughter-in-law told police that she spoke with Victor on April 4. Victor reportedly told her about Jaime “acting crazy again” before Jaime allegedly took the phone and said he was unhappy about his father selling the home.
Victor managed to get back the phone and said he had called the police. He called back his daughter-in-law the same day and said “everything was fine,” though he did not provide details.
According to KTSM, Victor called 911 claiming his younger son hit him and had a hammer. Police responded to the home, but it was closed as a mental health call. Documents indicated that Victor never mentioned being hit with a hammer to responding police officers, though they took the hammer from Jaime during the ordeal.
The day Victor’s body was found, a neighbor told the daughter-in-law that she had not seen Victor — but she observed Jaime moving his car. The neighbor also claimed Jaime was yelling in the street, according to KTSM.
In addition to Victor’s extensive injuries, investigators said blood throughout the home suggested a struggle had occurred.
Jaime and his father’s vehicle were eventually found near Hueco Tanks. Jaime allegedly told cops his father was “in heaven.” He allegedly also stated that injuries to his hands were the result of “battling” aliens who harvested his organs days earlier.
KTSM reported that police were called to the El Paso home twice in 2023. Both times, Jaime told officers that he believed his father was an alien. During the first incident, Jaime was seen walking around the neighborhood with a decapitated rabbit.
Jaime is charged with his father’s murder. His bond was set at $2,000,000.
[Feature Photo: El Paso police]
