ARLINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News) – Arlington police are searching for an “armed and dangerous” suspect, after the discovery of a severed head along a local trail led investigators to the discovery of more bodies Monday afternoon.
Police have arrested 18-year-old Mariano Sanchez-Pina and are asking the public to help find a second suspect, 28-year-old Hector “Cholo” Acosta-Ojeda.
Investigators said a citizen reported finding the head in a wooded area near a creek in the 400 block of Truman Street last Saturday.
There was a note next to the head the read “La Raza Se Resreta y Faultan 4” which, according the Fort Worth Star Telegram, is loosely translated as “The race, or group, must be respected and there’s only four left.”
According to a search warrant affidavit, Sanchez-Pina told investigators, while in custody for an outstanding warrant, that he had been taken by several men and forced to watch a murder happen.
It also stated Sanchez-Pina “described being tied up at an unspecified location and witnessing a subject being stabbed to death.”
Leitenant Chris Cook said human remains were found in the backyard of a house at 202 Burton Drive.
“We were able to unearth what we believe a shallow grave and located two bodies. We do believe they’re related to the body part that was found on a trail that was less than a mile away from where this residence is located,” he said.
The victims have not been positively identified but Sanchez-Pina and other witnesses told investigators they may belong to a man who goes by the name “Diablo” and his 17-year-old girlfriend.
The affidavit states that Sanchez-Pina told investigators that a man named “Cholo” had been threatening him and accused of him of stealing money. He stated that Cholo and Diablo came to his house on Friday but he was scared and didn’t answer the door.
Sanchez-Pina then stated that Cholo told him to go to his house on Burton Drive or be killed. He told investigators that when he walked inside the house, he found a dead man in the living room, who he identified as Diablo based on his clothes.
Sanchez-Pina said he ran from the home but was ordered to come back by Cholo. According to the affidavit, when Sanchez arrived back at the Burton Drive house, he went to the backyard and witnessed Cholo digging a hole while several people were watching.
He told investigators that Cholo told him “he wanted him to see how they handle things.”
One witness told investigators that Sanchez-Pina and another man were overheard talking about how Diablo had burglarized Sanchez’ apartment but left because needed to “record a murder”.
Other witnesses told detectives that Cholo had allegedly shown pictures of the crime scene on his phone to people and admitted to the murders.
The department is working with the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office on the recovery of the deceased. Investigators said they’re not ruling out the possibility that the killings are drug related.
Authorities have issued a murder arrest warrant for Acosta-Ojeda, believed to be Cholo. He’s 5’8″ and 190 pounds and has a tattoo on his arm that reads “el mas odiado”.
“We think he’s now on the run. We’re trying to track his whereabouts now. We do believe he is armed and dangerous. So, we’re just asking the public just to keep an eye out,” said Cook.
Sanchez-Pina is facing numerous charges including murder.
Anyone with information about Acosta-Ojeda’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Arlington Police Department’s Tip Line at 817-575-5823.
Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward by contacting Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS.
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