Who was Nathaniel Navarro? Suspects charged with Texas teenager's murder after his mother discovers partially buried body
PASADENA, TEXAS: Authorities in Texas have arrested three teenage suspects for the brutal murder of Nathaniel Navarro, 19. Navarro was killed in a park in Pasadena, Texas, on Thursday morning, November 2.
His body was found by his mother in a partially buried state after she tracked his cell phone.
(Facebook)
Who are the three teenagers arrested for Nathaniel Navarro's murder?
Three teenagers, Jeanette Lea Clifton, 18, Serenity Delgado, 17, and Cruz Isaiah Martinez, 18, have been arrested and charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence in connection with Navarro’s death.
According to the police, the suspects, as revealed by both Delgado and Martinez, planned to rob Navarro of his “drugs, money, and car” during a drug deal that went wrong, Daily Mail reports.
One of them messaged Navarro the day before as he wanted to buy marijuana from him.
When Navarro met them at Satsuma Park around 1.30 am, Martinez shot him in his car with a gun that belonged to Delgado’s mother.
Navarro then crashed his car into a tree and died from a gunshot wound to his upper torso. The suspects then moved his car and dragged his body across the park.
Nathaniel Navarro was buried in a hole after being fatally shot
Clifton brought a shovel to dig a hole and bury the victim. She also picked up shell casings at the scene, according to the reports.
A witness called the police at around 2.30 am and reported a car crash and hearing gunshots.
The witness also saw a male and a female pull a body out of the vehicle before fleeing the scene on foot, the report said.
Surveillance footage from the park and a nearby gas station helped the police identify and locate the suspects.
Clifton had blood on her face and clothes and turned herself into the police.
Delgado and Martinez were turned in by Delgado’s mother who learned about their involvement in the murder.
All three teens confessed to their roles in the crime
All three suspects confessed to their roles in the crime and waived their Miranda rights. They are being held in Harris County Jail, Law and Crime reported.
Clifton and Martinez are set to face an additional charge for fabricating evidence in an attempt to impair the investigation.
Clifton allegedly lied to the police about the source of the blood on her body and the reason for bringing a shovel to the park.
Martinez, who is accused of firing the fatal shot, was on pre-trial release for a DUI and unlawful possession of a firearm.
He had a history of criminal activity and was out on bond at the time of the murder.
Nathaniel Navarro's family mourns his death and demands justice
Navarro’s family took to social media following his sudden death and posted pictures in memory of him.
Pricilla, the victim’s mother, posted pictures of Navarro and her other son Noah, who died in June 2022.
“My boyz are together,” she said in the caption. In another post she wrote, "My life will never be the same."
Nathaniel Navarro's mother shared pictures with him on social media
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Navarro’s aunt also shared the Pasadena Police Department’s press release to Facebook and said, “They deserve to die the same way they killed Nathaniel Navarro. Forgive me but that’s just how I feel !!!”
A funeral for Navarro will be held on Saturday along with a prayer service. His family and friends are hoping for justice and closure.