Chaos reigned in a Texas courtroom on Tuesday morning after a huge brawl broke out between the families of a man who pleaded guilty to murder and his teen victim.
Frank DeLeon Jr., 20, admitted to fatally stabbing his 16-year-old girlfriend Diamond Alvarez 22 times as she walked the family dog in January 2022, according to ABC 7.
Diamond’s mother, Anna Machado, gave an impact statement to the court on Tuesday calling DeLeon a monster, saying his mother, who was in the gallery, had raised him to be that way, the affiliate reported. As she stepped down, Machado rushed toward DeLeon, and while she was being restrained another family member pounced on DeLeon.
As bailiffs tried to restore order, DeLeon’s mother rushed forward and started brawling with Machado.
Machado was remorseful for her actions afterward, but did not regret her words.
“He’s a monster in my eyes. That would never change,” the grieving mother said. “Did he look remorseful at all? No. He was laughing at my face. It’s a joke. A life is not a joke. My daughter’s not a joke.”
DeLeon was out on bond and did not show up on Monday when the trial was scheduled to start. His defense attorneys claimed he was involved in a car accident on his way to the courthouse and had to go to the hospital, but the judge issued an arrest warrant was issued and DeLeon was taken into custody later that day, ABC 7 reported.
He was shackled with his arm in a sling when he appeared in court Tuesday — DeLeon agreed to a 45-year prison sentence after admitting his crime.
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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