BEAUMONT, Texas — In what has been described a a "gruesome" murder, a man could spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced for killing another man with a machete in January 2023.
Florencio Castillo Guillen, 61, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of Gerardo Solis Ramos, 64, who was found dead near dumpsters in the 1200 block of South 11th St. on Feb. 27, 2023.
When the victim's body was found, police determined his death to be a homicide. Police said Ramos died after being struck in the head and face with a "sharp-edged weapon."
Beaumont officers interviewed Guillen, and he admitted to being in the company of the victim around the time of the murder.
The probable cause affidavit says detectives found "biological evidence" on the defendant's person that connected him to the victim.
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Guillen is currently being held at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility.
The case is being heard in the 252nd District Court, with Judge Raquel West.
Day 1 of Testimony
The trial of Florencio Castillo Guillen, accused of killing Gerardo Solis Ramos with a machete, was delayed due to a late translator.
Prosecutor Lane Nichols told the jury they would hear testimony about the horrific nature of the crime, including how Guillen initially claimed ignorance of Ramos' death despite blood on his clothes.
He later admitted to the killing but claimed self-defense.
Nichols argued there would be no credible evidence that Ramos had threatened Guillen.
Defense attorney Laurie Perozzo used her opening statements to tell the jury that Ramos and Guillen both had lived on the property where the homicide happened, but that Guillen had been removed from the property.
She told the jury they will hear that Ramos was stealing property and acting irrationally before the homicide, and that there was a confrontation during which Guillen feared for his life.
She said they will hear evidence that both men were drinking beer together inside the property the day of the homicide because Ramos allowed Guillen to come back.
Perozzo said the machete used in the homicide was part of the equipment used by the lawn business where they both worked.
In opening statements, Prosecutor Nichols told the jury they will hear how the victim's body was found near a dumpster on property where the victim lived. He said they will hear officers testify that it was one of the most horrific homicides they had ever worked.
Prosecutor Nichols said Ramos was struck with the machete multiple times.
He told the jury they will hear how Guillen was the one who reported finding the victim's body and told detectives he had no idea how Ramos died, even though Guillen had blood on his clothing.
Day 2 of Testimony
Dr. Baiyang Xu, a pathologist, testified about the autopsy of the victim, describing injuries that caused death and confirming the victim was intoxicated.
Graphic photos were shown to the jury, and Dr. Xu stated that the machete presented by the prosecutor could have caused the injuries.
During cross-examination, the defense attorney questioned Dr. Xu on additional substances, asking if barbiturates or THC were present, which he clarified were not indicated by the toxicology report.
Crime scene technicians also testified on evidence collection procedures.
Pathologist Dr. Xu was the first person called to the stand today. He testified about the autopsy.
The prosecutor warned the jury that some of the photos they would see during the doctor’s testimony were graphic.
The doctor went into detail about the injuries that led to the victim’s death and verified that the victim was intoxicated.
The prosecutor held up the machete used in the homicide and asked the doctor if it could have caused the injuries seen in the photos, and the doctor said yes.
In cross-examination, the defense attorney asked the doctor to confirm again that the deceased had alcohol in his system, and the doctor said yes.
She asked the doctor if the victim was tested for barbiturates and THC. She also asked if numbers noted indicated if they were present, but below a certain threshold, and he said it did not mean that they were present in the patient.
Crime scene technicians also testified this morning about how evidence was collected.
Day 3 of Testimony
The defense began presenting it's case.
Perozzo first called a supervisor from Cooper Lawn Services, the company where both Ramos and Guillen, worked.
She questioned the supervisor about the living situation of Ramos, specifically asking if he knew that Ramos was living in a camper on the property, which he denied. Perozzo also asked questions about the work Ramos was doing.
Guillen then testified about his living situation, confirming he had been staying in a trailer on the property for nine months to work and send support to his family in Mexico.
He admitted he had been drinking the day of the incident, and recounted that Ramos joined him with a drink and at some point removed a lock from his trailer. Guillen went to secure his trailer, and he stated that Ramos followed and threatened him with words that made Guillen feel unsafe.
In cross-examination, prosecutor Lane Nichols asked Guillen if he could confirm the exact words of the alleged threat, which Guillen affirmed.
Guillen also explained that he felt deeply frightened and unsafe after hearing these words, leading him to retrieve a machete.
Following these testimonies, both sides rested their cases, and the jury began deliberating.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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