A heroic stepfather saved his teenage stepdaughter’s life from her alleged stalker but ended up paying with his own.
Osvaldo Casas, a 37-year-old father of two, was murdered in early August in Houston, Texas, and police believed the teen’s alleged stalker was responsible for his murder.
Two months after the murder, Cristian Gasca Martínez, 17, was arrested and charged with murder last week by Houston police.
Prosecutors allege that the teen had been stalking Casas’ 16-year-old stepdaughter and had eventually shot Casas “in retaliation for being rejected” by her.
Osvaldo Casas was murdered in August after his abandoned teenage daughter allegedly had a stalker who ‘felt rejected’ by her. He appears photographed with his two daughters and his pregnant wife, Judith.
Two months after the murder, Cristian Gasca Martínez, 17, left, was arrested and charged with the murder last week by Houston police of Osvaldo Casas, 37, right.
Wife, Judith Molina, performed CPR on her husband, Osvaldo Casas, but he was seriously injured
Martinez is currently being held in the Harris County Jail on $200,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court later Monday.
Just one day before the murder, the Casas family’s car was vandalized after being thrown with eggs and flour.
Even neighbors became suspicious when they saw a black pickup truck or SUV driving slowly through the neighborhood.
When Casas saw the car staring at the family home shortly after midnight on August 10, he left his home to speak to the driver personally, but was shot and killed by the suspect.
Surveillance video shows Casas running down the street and then stumbling in the road after being shot.
Police rushed to the scene after the August shooting, but nothing could be done.
Casas was described as a loving father to his two daughters, ages 8 and 16.
Family welcomed baby 13 days after Casas’ murder
Surveillance video shows Casas running down the street but then tripping after being shot while trying to return home.
Casas’ injuries proved fatal when he collapsed on the way home, dying in the arms of his pregnant wife, Judith Molina, who desperately performed CPR on him while trying to save his life.
By the time paramedics arrived at the scene, the loving father had already died after being shot several times.
‘He died in their hands,’ said Blanca Aguirre, the Casas’ mother Khou.
His wife also paid tribute to her husband in a GoFundMe page that has raised almost $30,000 to help the family.
‘Osvaldo was a man of deep love and kindness. “He was loved by many in our community and never hesitated to lend a hand,” she wrote.
His wife later gave birth, less than two weeks later, to a baby boy.