Second suspect facing capital murder charge related to 2023 homicide investigation

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A second suspect was arrested Monday and charged in connection with a 2023 north Austin homicide investigation, according to Travis County court documents.

An arrest affidavit showed 28-year-old Treyvon Rondale James Vance faced one count of capital murder by terror threat related to the incident; however, there were 10 other charges listed in his Travis County jail booking information.

KXAN searched for Vance’s attorney information, but it was unavailable. This story will be updated if an attorney is later listed and KXAN receives a statement.

On Dec. 26, 2023, officers with the Austin Police Department responded to a call regarding a man who was found beaten and bloody in an alleyway in the 1700 block of West Braker Lane.

The man, later identified as Hector Diaz-Esparza, was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined Diaz-Esparza’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

At the scene, investigators found a cell phone belonging to Diaz-Esparza. A digital forensic examination of the phone showed messages between Diaz-Esparza and another man regarding the purchase of a firearm for $400.

In March, police arrested 21-year-old Johnathan Matthew Silguero in connection with the investigation. He also faces a capital murder by terror threat charge.

Court documents said law enforcement officials used text messages and information gathered during an interview with Silguero to identify Vance as a suspect in the investigation.

Police believe Vance acted as a co-conspirator along with Silguero to meet with Diaz-Esparza under the ruse of selling a handgun before robbing him and murdering him by hitting him on the head multiple times, according to the affidavit.

As of Thursday, Vance remained booked in the Travis County jail. A bond has not yet been set for the capital murder charge, according to jail records.

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