VIDEO: Fight over horse training and $10 ends with murder

NEAR ALTON — A dispute over $10 and who was the best horse trainer led to a ranch hand’s murder Friday afternoon, sheriff’s deputies said.

Three ranch workers were drinking beer and barbecuing about 4 p.m. Friday at the No Que No Ranch near the intersection of 8 Mile Line and Texan Road, said Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño.

An argument unfolded over small debt that David Bello Crisolis owed one of his friends.

“Then they started arguing over who the best horse trainer was, who the best ranch hand was,” Treviño said.

The argument “got the best” of Daniel Chavez Muñoz, a 67-year-old ranch worker who told investigators he then shot Crisolis with a 12-gauge shotgun.

The other ranch hand present, 49-year-old Juan Cruz Paredes, told deputies he helped stab Crisolis, as well.

The duo then dumped Crisolis’ body at the edge of a citrus orchard near the intersection of 10 Mile Line and Texan Road. A group of kids found the body shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.

Deputies found a blue Chevrolet pickup truck with a window busted out nearby and located its owner, a nearby ranch owner, who said Chavez was the caretaker of his property.

Justice of the Peace Luis Garza pronounced the death of Crisolis, from Veracruz, Ver., Mexico, deputies said.

Investigators found Chavez and Cruz on Sunday, when they admitted to the murder.

Chavez had previously been deported by federal authorities five times prior to his murder arrest, Treviño said.

“We find that somewhat unusual,” Treviño said of Chavez’s previous deportations, adding that the murder arrest was “by far” his most serious criminal offense.

The sheriff said he notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the three ranches where the men — all of whom were in the United States illegally — were employed for further investigation, declining to disclose the names of the property owners.

Despite that, he maintained that deputies would not directly enforce or arrest people for breaking federal immigration laws.

“Our deputies do not enforce immiration laws,” Treviño said. “But once an individual lands in our jail, regardless of who arrested him, and he is a candidate for deportation, (federal authorities) will be contacted.”

Justice of the Peace Ismael “Melo” Ochoa charged Chavez and Cruz with murder during an arraignment Monday afternoon. The first-degree felony charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000 fine upon conviction.

Both men remained at the Hidalgo County Jail late Monday evening in lieu of $500,000 bonds.

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Jared Taylor covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.