By Macarena Hernandez
Express-News Staff Writer
Web Posted : 03/12/2003 3:45 PM
BROWNSVILLE All three children found dead in a Brownsville apartment Tuesday were decapitated, police said today.
Brownsville police chief Carlos Garica addresses questions at a press conference along with Yolanda De Leon Cameron County DA's office.
Delcia Lopez/Express-News
Brownsville Police, Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety crime scene investigators gather outside the apartment where three bodies were found.
Authorities accused both parents of killing the children, including a 2-month-old infant. Both were charged with capital murder and were being held without bond.
The city was still reeling as word spread about the killings. The childrens bodies were found Tuesday in their parents disheveled and bloody apartment in downtown Brownsville.
John Allan Rubio, 22, and Angela Camacho, 23, were each charged with three counts of capital murder.
According to friends of the family, Rubio and Camacho had been living together for at least three years. A Child Protective Services spokeswoman said they had completed parenting classes after being referred to the state agency because the children were malnourished and homeless and needed medical attention.
The agency never took custody of the children at any point in its eight-month investigation, and the case had been closed in December, before the youngest child was born. Several agencies that worked with the family agreed that the family was back on its feet. They had an apartment, their shots were updated and the children were gaining weight. Drugs were not an issue, she said.
Maria Angela Camacho,23, in police mugshot after her arrest of the murder of her three children.
Delcia Lopez/Express-News
John Allen RUBIO, 22, in police mugshot after his arrest of the murder of three children.
I have been with CPS for 16 years, and I have never seen a case like this, said Marina Yzaguirre, an agency spokeswoman. This is one of those horrible, horrible cases that can't be predicted.
The bodies of the oldest child, Julissa Quesada, 3, and the youngest, Mary Jane Rubio, a 2-month-old infant, were found in a plastic bag with their severed heads. John Stephan Rubio, 1, was found naked on a bed, his severed head next to his body, police said.
Garcia said Rubio was not the father of the two oldest children.
Police said they were not sure how the children died. Investigators recovered three knives believed to have been used in the crime. Brownsville Police Chief Carlos Garcia said both parents gave a statement recounting what happened. He declined to call it a confession.
At this point, we're still trying to determine a motive, Garcia said. Nothing has been ruled out at this time.
There were no signs of occult activity by the parents in the apartment, Garcia said.
A family member visiting the household saw the bodies, ran outside and flagged down a passing patrol car, police said.
Cameron County District Attorney Yolanda De Leon said it was too early to decide whether to seek the death penalty in the case.
Linda Rocha, 51, a former neighbor who knew the family, said Camacho and Rubio were living together when she met them three years ago. She described Rubio as coming from a really poor family. She said his two younger brothers had worked hard and improved their conditions, but Rubio hadnt been able to rise above poverty.
Rocha and others among a horrified crowd that gathered outside the apartment late Tuesday said they werent sure if either parent was employed. They often saw the parents walking through the neighborhood with their children in strollers, stopping by acquaintances homes and accepting donations of purified water, baby formula and food.
Those who were acquainted with the family said the only reason they could think of for the crime was that the parents were so destitute.
I still cant believe this happened, Rocha said. If they didnt have money to clothe them or something to give them to eat, give them away, give them to the government, but dont kill those children.
Rochas daughter, Patty Peña, 24, said the oldest child was beautiful and had curly, curly hair like her mother.
Lisa Marie Gomez contributed to this report.
mrhernandez@express-news.net
03/12/2003
People are sick!
Those 2 adults need to be shot, point blank, in the face.
This makes me wanna throw up...
the president
