2014-07-30
Local murder case closes after nearly two decades
Amarillo, TX - A murder suspect who evaded local and federal authorities for almost 19 years has been found.
Last week, Mexican authorities arrested Oscar Gomez Erives on drug charges and discovered he also had an outstanding warrant for the murder of a 17-year-old Amarillo resident.
On September 17, 1995, Erives went to the home of Betty Trevino, his former girlfriend, and begged her to go to Mexico with him. When she refused, he reportedly shot her repeatedly and killed her in front of her mother.
"Erives got his son to go to the door to get Betty to go outside," explained 47th District Attorney Randall Sims. "When she went outside, then her mother went outside. It was an ongoing fight about going to Mexico, and he grabbed Betty around the neck and told her mom she had to beg for Betty's life or he was going to kill her. And so she got on her knees and begged for Betty's life, and he killed her anyways."
Since that tragic night, both local and federal authorities have been searching for Erives. In 1996, Amarillo police arrested Victor Vargas in connection with the murder. Vargas was arraigned in court, but his case was dismissed a year later.
Meanwhile, authorities continued searching for Erives. Last Tuesday they almost had him. Mexican authorities arrested Erives and took him into custody at a jail in Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua. It was there that he took his own life. "Apparently around 7 o'clock that same evening he hung himself with his own clothes," said Sims.
Because the defendant is deceased, the case is now closed. Although it wasn't the kind of justice the DA's office was looking for, Sims said they were at least able to bring some closure to Betty Trevino's mother. "I think she's very glad to have it over, but she's also kind of really sad that he didn't have to come back and face justice. It's good to have an end, especially for her. It has now been two months short of 19 years."
Sims said a dismissal of the case was recently granted because there is no longer a living defendant.
Madison Alewel - NewsChannel 10
Murder Suspect Commits Suicide
Excerpt
Oscar Gomez Erives, 53, was Wanted for 1995 Shooting Death of Ex-girlfriend
by: Staff
Posted: Jul 29, 2014 / 09:48 PM CDT
Updated: Jul 29, 2014 / 10:18 PM CDT
AMARILLO — A man wanted for a cold case murder in Amarillo allegedly commits suicide.
It happened last week in Mexico.
Mexican police say Oscar Gomez Erives, 53, hanged himself with his own clothes in his jail cell.
He had been on the run nearly 19 years before his arrest.
Erives was wanted for the 1995 murder of this then ex-girlfriend, Betty Trevino, 17.
According to investigators, Trevino had told her mother a week before her death she feared for her life because of Erives.
Trevino was shot and killed during an argument with Erives at her mother’s house on the 600 block of N. Pierce in September of 1995.
Erives and his 14-year old son along with another man had gone to the home to talk her into going to Mexico with them but, she refused. That’s when she was killed.
47th District Attorney Randall Sims says he informed Trevino’s family about Erives’ death Monday.
“They would like to have seen him again face to face and see him meet justice. But, I did tell her there is some good knowing he appealed it to the highest authority.” Sims said.
Sims says they were close to catching Erives over the last couple of years. He was finally apprehended last Tuesday on drug charges. But, he was found dead in his cell later that day.
Erives’ 14-year old son was arrested shortly after the murder but was released without charge.
Another man who was with Erives and his son at the time of the shooting was charged with Trevino’s death a year after her murder. But, the case against Victor Manuel Vargas was dismissed in 1997.