Miguel Angel Martinez Murder

In January 1991, the night between the 18 and 19, in a Laredo home police found a gruesome murder of three people, James Smiley (business man), Ruben Martinez (22 yrs), Daniel Dones (14 yrs). Just a couple of days after the Murder of these innocent people. Three days later the police department picked up and questioned Milo Flores, (17 yrs and son of a local judge), Miguel Angel Martinez (17 yrs) and Miguel Venegas (16 yrs).

Miguel Martinez was the only one who made a statement as to what actually happened that night. He clearly describes in detail the brutal murder of James Smiley, Ruben Martinez, and Daniel Dones. After stating who was with him that night, he mentions that after he found out there was people inside the home they were going to vandalize he immediately wanted to leave. It was too late Miguel Venegas had already struck and killed two individuals and stabbed the third.On the night of January 22 Miguel Martinez was arrested and the only one of the three individuals who was put on trial for capital murder.
All three of the boys should have been charged for what happened the night of January 18th. Weather they be charged for being there and taking place at the night of the murder or providing weapons. Using the evidence that was at the crime scene could have clearly helped Miguel Martinez receive a smaller sentence, and justify putting the other two boys in jail as well. I also believe that the police and maybe even the DAs office could have tampered with the evidence being lost or