Body Found in Bag at Texas Home; Victim's Son Charged
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
EL PASO, Texas – A 29-year-old man has been arrested and charged with killing his own father after authorities discovered the body of a 59-year-old man in a plastic bag inside a home in west El Paso. A second person was also detained for allegedly helping to conceal the body and clean the scene. The El Paso police identified the victim as David Edward De Coste, 59. According to police, the incident occurred on August 18 at a residence located in the 6800 block of Villa Hermosa. Arrest documents reveal that officers responded to the home around 3:00 p.m. after receiving a report of a strong odor coming from the residence and found a body wrapped in plastic in the garage. During an initial safety inspection, officers detected signs that there were other people inside the house, although they were not located immediately. The perimeter was secured, and support from the SWAT team and Crisis Management Team was requested. Later, John Michael De Coste, 29, and Idalia De La Torre, 28, were located and detained. De La Torre told investigators that she began living with the accused and the victim on August 2. During her interview, she claimed that on several occasions she and the victim kissed when the accused was not home. She recounted that on an unspecified date, the victim entered her room and began kissing her. Shortly after, the accused entered the room and observed the situation, leading to a discussion that escalated into a physical altercation between the two men. In an interview with detectives, the accused stated that he came out of the shower and found the victim kissing De La Torre. According to his account, the victim was intoxicated and said he would go get a firearm from his room. The accused claimed he followed him, pushed him, and the victim fell to the ground, hitting his head. He also admitted to slapping and kicking him while he was on the floor. The accused stated that he checked on the victim periodically throughout the night and found him the next day without signs of life. He acknowledged not calling authorities because he had an outstanding arrest warrant. Documents also indicate that the accused allegedly ordered a body bag through Amazon days after the death. According to statements obtained by investigators, De La Torre helped him place the body in the bag and move it to the garage, as well as clean the area where the body was found using various cleaning products. The autopsy revealed blunt force trauma and a subdural hematoma in the skull. Preliminary results determined that the cause of death was homicide, according to the documents. Authorities reported that John Michael De Coste has been charged with murder and is being held without bail. De La Torre faces a charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, with bail set at $150,000. The Crimes Against Persons Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this case.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
