HOUSTON – Nearly a decade after a young couple was gunned down following a date night in Spring Branch, one of the men responsible has pleaded guilty bringing a measure of closure to families who have waited years for justice.
Josue Casco accepted a plea deal with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and will serve 50 years in prison.
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“He admitted his guilt today, which we were very satisfied with,” prosecutor Samantha Knecht said.
Casco is the second man tied to the killings of Robert Cerda and Rachel De La Rosa. In 2024, a jury convicted Herbert James Simon, sentencing him to two life terms for murder and aggravated kidnapping.
Investigators say the couple was out on a date on Dec. 11, 2017, having dinner before stopping at a nearby barber shop.
That’s when prosecutors say Simon shot Cerda in the back, killing him. De La Rosa was then forced inside and held against her will.
Surveillance video captured the couple’s final moments earlier that evening laughing and joking together at a gas station, unaware of what was coming.
Hours later, their bodies were found miles apart, De La Rosa in Missouri City and Cerda in northeast Houston.
Case went cold for years
The case remained unsolved for years, leaving families in limbo.
“It changes your life. You hear it all the time, but when it comes knocking at your door,” said Daniel Cerda, Robert’s father.
Authorities say a tip in 2022 finally helped investigators identify and charge both men.
Prosecutors credited both law enforcement and the victims’ families for never giving up.
“This Cerda family has fought very hard for years. They never gave up,” prosecutor Lisa Calligan said. “They’re heroes to us because they kept pushing.”
In court, emotions ran high as loved ones came face-to-face with Casco.
Among them was Brianna De La Rosa, who was just 6 years old when her aunt was killed. Now 13, she addressed the man responsible.
“I didn’t like looking at him… I just can’t believe that he did that… like you really did that,” she said. “You decided to take a life, a life that mattered. Think about family, friends.”
For many family members, the plea deal brought complicated emotions.
“At first, I was disappointed,” said Valerie Cerda, Robert’s mother. “That the case went through a plea versus going into a trial.”
She added, “We are sad that he’s only getting 50 years versus not getting a life sentence without parole.”
But despite that, she says there is also relief.
“I think we’re grateful that he is actually going to get 50 years in prison for what he deserves,” she said.
“It’s been hard,” Daniel Cerda said. “We miss our loved ones and we’re glad that we’re getting some closure.”
Cerda family spokesperson Jeanette Ramirez said the moment has been years in the making.
“We’re just glad that it’s over and we can put a face to who did this and never have to think about it ever again,” she said. “It’s just a shame…they were taken in their own community.”
Crime Stoppers’ Andy Kahan said the resolution brings long-awaited relief.
“Grief is intensified when justice is lacking,” he said. “And finally, we’ve got justice for both families.”
During the plea hearing, there was brief mention of a possible additional murder connected to Casco.
Prosecutors say they investigated but were unable to file charges.
“It’s something that we looked into, but we weren’t ever able to charge him with,” Knecht said.
Casco’s defense attorneys declined to discuss the matter.
For the families of Cerda and De La Rosa, the pain remains but so does the memory of who they were.
Loved ones describe the couple as deeply in love, often laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
Now, after years of waiting, they say they are choosing to focus on healing.
A long chapter marked by grief, uncertainty, and unanswered questions is finally coming to a close.