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Hitman caught on tape stealing bullets for teacher's murder
Posted: 04.10.2011 at 7:39 PM
Sergio Chapa

Sergio is KGBT's Interactive Manager and a reporter for VALLEYCENTRAL.COM.

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Daniel Flores Lopez
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Authorities are reporting yet another twist in the investigation into the death of a Rio Hondo ISD teacher.

Court documents released on Sunday show that accused killer Daniel Flores Lopez was caught on surveillance tape stealing bullets for the murder of Sonia Perez.

The third grade teacher was killed in her van back on March 31st.

The documents show that Lopez went to a WalMart store in San Benito on the day of the murder and stole ammunition.

Lopez was not caught but investigators learned that surveillance cameras caught him stealing the bullets on tape.

Six people, including Perez’s preacher husband Julio Cesar Perez, are now in custody for the case where authorities believe a life insurance policy is the motive.

New Details

Suspect Daniel Castañeda allegedly gave Lopez a ride to Mike’s Supermarket in Rio Hondo where here Mark Daniel Garza gave Lopez a gun.

Castañeda then gave Lopez a ride to the Sonia Perez’s school dropping him off a block away.

Lopez allegedly snuck into Perez’s van and waiting for her in the back.

He shot her and called for a ride home.

Castañeda’s father Alfredo Castañeda gave Lopez a ride home where Lopez told him he killed Sonia Perez and showed off her cell phone.

Lopez gave Alfredo Castañeda $200 dollars for the ride.

Connected

The court documents show that Julio Cesar Perez had been looking for someone to “take care of a problem” or get rid of “someone in his way.”

He was ultimately put in touch with Gabriel Apolinar Escalante, who called Garza.

Garza declined the job offer but referred Julio Cesar Perez and Escalante to Lopez.

The documents show that Lopez was ultimately supposed to get paid $3,000 dollars but that Alfredo Castañeda was supposed to get a $1,000 share.

Alfredo Castañeda told deputies that he couldn’t believe Lopez went through with it.


Name    Role
 
Julio Cesar Perez Husband, Pastor, Ordered Hit
Gabriel Apolinar Escalante Middleman
Daniel Flores LopezHitman
Alfredo Castañeda  Co-Conspirator, Ride Home
Daniel Castañeda  Ride to WalMart, Murder Weapon, School
Mark Daniel GarzaDeclined Hit Job, Provided Murder Weapon


 

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