Sorto Sentenced To Death For East End Murders
Defendant Found Guilty Of Capital Murder
POSTED: 10:19 a.m. CST November 13, 2003
UPDATED: 10:22 a.m. CST November 13, 2003
HOUSTON -- Jurors in the East End Murder trial have sentenced convicted murderer Walter Sorto to death.
Sorto, 26, was convicted of capital murder earlier this month for killing two East End waitresses -- Roxana Capulin and Maria Moreno Rangel -- in the spring of 2002.
The defendant pleaded guilty to sexual assault and kidnapping but pleaded not guilty to capital murder.
Defense attorneys said an accomplice pulled the trigger and that Sorto was forced by his accomplices -- Edgar Cubas, 24, and Eduardo Navarro, 16 -- to sexually assault Rangel after she was already dead, presuming that his DNA would be detected by police.
Houston police said they had also linked Sorto and Cubas to six other murders and tied them to last year's disappearance of a 13-year-old girl.
Cubas and Navarro will be tried separately for the deaths of Capulin and Rangel.
The three men were also charged with the death of Esmerelda Alvarado, 15, who was also raped, shot in the head and dumped in a remote area.
Copyright 2003 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Sorto, 26, was convicted of capital murder earlier this month for killing two East End waitresses -- Roxana Capulin and Maria Moreno Rangel -- in the spring of 2002.
The defendant pleaded guilty to sexual assault and kidnapping but pleaded not guilty to capital murder.
Defense attorneys said an accomplice pulled the trigger and that Sorto was forced by his accomplices -- Edgar Cubas, 24, and Eduardo Navarro, 16 -- to sexually assault Rangel after she was already dead, presuming that his DNA would be detected by police.
Houston police said they had also linked Sorto and Cubas to six other murders and tied them to last year's disappearance of a 13-year-old girl.
Cubas and Navarro will be tried separately for the deaths of Capulin and Rangel.
The three men were also charged with the death of Esmerelda Alvarado, 15, who was also raped, shot in the head and dumped in a remote area.
Previous Stories:
- November 3, 2003: Jury: East End Murder Defendant Guilty
- October 21, 2003: Jurors Hear East End Murder Defendant's Statement
- October 20, 2003: Accused East End Murderer's Trial Begins
- August 7, 2002: DNA Results Connect Killings Of 3 Women
- May 10, 2002: Laura Ayala's Mexican Search Spreads
- May 9, 2002: 2 Interviewed About Possible Ayala Sighting
- May 9, 2002: Police Release New Leads In Laura Ayala Case
- April 17, 2002: Van May Hold Clue To Girl's Disappearance
- April 9, 2002: Authorities Release New Info In Laura Ayala Case
- March 29, 2002: Congresswoman Joins Search For Missing Girl
- March 22, 2002: Police Release More Photos Of Missing Girl
- March 19, 2002: Reward Increased For Missing Girl
Copyright 2003 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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