HOUSTON – Testimony continues Tuesday in the trial of a teenager accused of brutally killing a 15-year-old girl in a brutal satanic ritual.
Jose Reyes allegedly confessed to killing Corriann Cervantes, telling homicide detectives he "sold his soul to the devil."
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Jurors watched a police video of the crime scene Tuesday. They also saw graphic images of the crime as an investigator explained how he believed the crime was committed.
Authorities say Reyes, who was 17 years old at the time of the killing, and Victor Alias, who was 16, lured Cervantes to a vacant apartment near her home in February and allegedly sexually assaulted, beat and strangled her. Cervantes' partially-nude body was found three days later by a resident of the The Bays Apartments in the 6400 block El Camino Real Boulevard.
Prosecutors said an inverted cross was carved on her stomach.
"They discussed the fact that Mr. Reyes had sold his soul to the devil, and if they ended up killing this teenager, that would also allow the 16-year-old to also sell his soul to the devil, " Assistant Harris County District Attorney John Jordan said after the boys were taken into custody. "The teenager screamed, 'Why are you doing this to me?' During that time, they stopped her. It became a kidnapping and, ultimately, she was killed."
Prosecutors described the crime as heinous and extremely violent. Extremely graphic testimony was given Monday about what happened during the attack. The Medical Examiner's Office said Cervantes was alive when she was being mutilated.
Prosecutors said Reyes told at least two people, including his sister, that he killed a girl. His sister said little on the witness stand, but did agree that Reyes told her that he killed a girl.
Cervantes' grandmother also took the stand. She described picking up and dropping off her granddaughter at school daily.
"It will be very difficult. The next few days will be very hard," said the victim's grandmother, Catherine Cervantes. "The only thing that we're looking for is justice for her. It's been really difficult. We not only have to go through this trial, but we have another trial also, with the other person. So it'll be hard for the family."
While on the witness stand, she rarely looked at Reyes.
Prosecutors said when Cervantes attempted to run away, Reyes began beating her head with an ashtray and Alias strangled her with a belt. Cervantes was also beaten with a toilet water tank lid. She had puncture wounds from a screwdriver on her face and her eyes were gouged because she bit one of the boys, prosecutors said.
In court, the first witness to discover Cervantes body said he did not recognize her even though he knew her. He said that he ran and told his neighbors who also came to the cold, dark apartment to investigate.
Alias and Cervantes both attended Clear Creek ISD's Clear Path Alternative School in League City.
Reyes was booked into jail and held without bond. He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on the charge of capital murder. Alias was certified to stand trial as an adult and also faces up to 40 years behind bars for capital murder.
Neither teenager is eligible for the death penalty under Texas law because both are under 18 years old.
This story comes courtesy our sister station in Houston, KPRC.