On March 26, 2017, 58-year-old Lupe Romero, a Hispanic male, was shot in his home in Hamlin, Texas and died after being taken to Hamlin Memorial Hospital. Police found Romero with a gunshot wound to the right side of his body in the early hours of the morning.

An 18-year-old second cousin, Steven Delaine Ledesma, was arrested and charged with murder based on testimony from an alleged eyewitness, Oscar Villarreal. Ledesma was later released after Villarreal recanted and confessed to the shooting, saying it was accidental and that he had falsely accused Ledesma and another male. Oscar Rene Villarreal, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received 10 years deferred adjudication, 240 hours of community service, and a $25,000 fine. Romero’s family expressed dissatisfaction with the plea deal.

The case raised questions about the eyewitness account, the change in testimony, and the legal resolution that followed. Does anyone have information about Romero’s last known movements or what happened at the home that night?