Person of interest in Adriana Coronado's death wants more time to hire attorney

HOUSTON – Jose Solis Jr., the man officials are calling a person of interest in the murder of a Katy teen and her father appeared in federal court Friday morning.

Solis was initially to appear before a judge for a detention hearing, which would have decided whether he would be granted bond, but his public defender switched gears and asked for an extension so Solis would have time to hire his own attorney.

Solis, 34, is accused of using commercial busses to transport 16 kilos of cocaine from Laredo to Houston. He's charged with possession with intent to distribute and conspiring to distribute cocaine. He was arrested Thursday on a federal drug charge, which is not related to the teen's death or her father, Cesar Coronado. Investigators have not revealed how or why he may be connected to their deaths.

The detention hearing was expected to reveal some of the evidence against him.

Solis and another man, Ramon Sanchez, are considered persons of interest in the case, and they have been linked to a drug trafficking ring. The federal complaint states Solis and Sanchez worked for a drug trafficking organization and that DEA agents had Sanchez under surveillance since February.

 

[READ THE FEDERAL COMPLAINT AGAINST SOLIS]

 

A confidential source was approached by Sanchez about stealing a load of cocaine that was supposed to be transported by a third man via bus from Laredo to Houston, the complaint states. Sanchez allegedly asked the confidential source to follow the bus and steal the cocaine from the luggage compartment under the bus when it stopped in San Antonio.

Agents intercepted the bus and confiscated the cocaine.

According to the complaint, surveillance video shows Solis arrive at the bus station carrying a black suitcase allegedly containing the cocaine. He then can be seen with the suitcase walking to the cargo door of the bus, then walking away carrying nothing, the complaint states.

DEA agents questioned Sanchez in early March. The complaint states Sanchez said he would drive Solis from Laredo to Houston several times to transport cocaine, and that Solis would pay him.

At this point, it's unclear of Solis' connection to Coronado.

Raid on Solis' home

The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted officials from Montgomery and Walker counties in serving a warrant at a home in the 2900 block of Aberdeen Drive in Magnolia. 

"I went out our driveway, and the SWAT team was in our yard. I asked what was going on, and he just said he couldn't tell us," said a neighbor, Ashley Mudd. "My fiance drove down there, and he saw them like go in and out, and there was a tent set up for, I guess, investigators."

Authorities issued an Amber Alert for Adriana Coronado after her father's body was found in Walker County. Caesar Coronado had been shot multiple times. 

A gardener found the teen's decomposing body days later, and the medical examiner confirmed she had also been shot to death.

Coronado's grandmother told KPRC 2 that Adriana's Coronado's mother hardly eats anymore and is very ill since she she found out about her daughter and husband.

Those responsible for killing the father and daughter remain on the loose, and authorities released surveillance videos of possible suspects.

“In my life, I have never seen him or heard his name,” said Adriana Cavazos, the mother of Adriana Coronado and wife of Cesar Coronado. “Never in my life.”

She told KPRC 2 in an exclusive interview it’s frightening not knowing who killed your family or why.  

“I’m happy there’s finally a person of interest, some kind of lead that could lead to the capture of the people who did this,” she said.  

KPRC 2 also learned that police arrested another man in Laredo. Ramon Sanchez is currently in custody and is also being questioned about the two homicides.  

Cavazos and her family said they have never heard of him, either.

“I’m not satisfied,” she said. “It doesn’t console me; Nobody’s gonna bring my daughter back.”