Texas man accused of killing uncle and hiding body in recycling bin
A man was arrested after police found his uncle's body inside a recycling bin in the yard of a San Antonio home.
A Texas man faces murder charges after authorities found his uncle's body hidden inside a recycling bin in the backyard of a San Antonio home.
The defendant was identified as Aquiminee La Roy Crawford, 26, who faces two counts of murder in connection with the death of Derrick Crawford, 52, according to a police report obtained by San Antonio-area ABC affiliate KSAT and Fox affiliate KABB.
Authorities believe that the crime occurred around May 9 at a home located on Sterling Street, in the Colosseum Willow Park sector, east of San Antonio.
Police found the body after a 911 call
According to police reports cited by local media, Aquiminee La Roy Crawford himself called 911 over the weekend.
When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect told them that his uncle had been “shot in the back.”
However, two agents detected a strong odor coming from a recycling container located in the backyard of the home.
Upon opening the container, one of the officers observed a human hand. Inside the container, police found the body of a man wrapped in several black garbage bags and with multiple gunshot wounds.
Authorities reported that during questioning Sunday night, Aquiminee La Roy Crawford admitted taking a gun from her bedroom and shooting her uncle inside the home two weeks earlier.
According to police, the accused claimed that he was upset by a comment made by the victim.
While in custody, he also told a detective that his uncle insulted him, which allegedly caused him to “lose control” and open fire on him in the living room of the home.
Authorities indicated that the victim was shot at least five times, including hits to the chest and head.
Investigators found traces of blood and ballistic evidence
The suspect also claimed that he was upset because his uncle used to constantly ask him for money, according to the investigation.
Based on the defendant's statements, the police recovered the weapon allegedly used in the crime, shell casings, and the victim's cell phone inside the suspect's room.
Investigators also found blood spatters on the walls and ceilings of the room, as well as blood-soaked cushions, elements that helped confirm the location of the homicide.
The victim's mother, who also lived in the home, was questioned by the authorities and claimed to be unaware of what happened.
According to police, the woman explained that the family had been searching for Derrick Crawford for approximately a week.
Aquiminee La Roy Crawford was initially booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center for abuse of corpse, but the charges were later upgraded to murder.