An Hidalgo County man was charged with murder after running over and killing his girlfriend over the weekend.
"I'm very sorry," Sergio Osvaldo Garcia told the media as he was escorted out of the courtroom inside the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
"You are charged with first degree felony, it's murder,” Precinct 4 Judge Charlie Espinoza told him during his Monday morning arraignment. “You're gonna have a bond of $500 thousand."
The 23-year-old is accused of running over his girlfriend, Jillilah Rivas, early Sunday morning following a party north of Edcouch, near Mile 4 West and Mile 19 North Roads.
"This murder is a result of a domestic dispute,” Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said. “This was an argument"
Treviño says 17-year-old Rivas wanted to leave to the party, but Garcia did not.
She left the home of the party and started walking along Mile 4 West.
Witnesses said they saw her walk past them, and Garcia's car a short time later.
"He comes in like this he goes around them,” Treviño said, describing Garcia’s car as he sped south on Mile 4 West towards Rivas. “Witnesses say he swerved a couple times and then he takes a beeline straight for her."
The impact killed the 17-year-old and left heavy damage to the passenger side of the bumper.
Treviño said that after striking her, Garcia asked a witness for help, "He picks her up, puts her in the car and then he drives her to his residence."
The witnesses followed Garcia to his home and then called police.
A short time later officers arrived at the home and found Rivas body unresponsive. They arrested Garcia on the spot.
On Monday morning Judge Espinoza charged him with murder, but since he is in the country illegally, Sheriff Treviño is taking some precautions.
"In case he does have bond that we put a detainer on him to make sure he is not deported before on our state murder charges and that can happen that can happen very easily," he said.
Treviño added that Garcia had already been deported once and he wants to make sure the 23-year-old stands trial for murder before he is deported.
Garcia has an extensive juvenile criminal record and was arrested numerous times, according to Treviño.
Investigators also believe Garcia had been drinking that night, but are waiting on blood tests to determine that.
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