POLICE: Group lured East Texas teen into woods, violently beat him to death before dumping his body

HOUSTON COUNTY, Texas — Arrest documents have revealed that an East Texas teen was lured into a secluded wooded area, brutally beaten to death with a metal pipe, and dumped in a ditch.

Edgar Hernandez and Emmanuel Mata have been charged with murder in connection with the death of 16-year-old Michael Ortiz, whose body was found on County Road 4020 in Houston County on May 2. Both suspects are being held at the Houston County Jail on $2 million bonds.

According to an arrest affidavit, investigators believe Ortiz was killed between 9 p.m. on April 29 and midnight on April 30. The document alleges that Hernandez and Mata, along with others, assaulted Ortiz by striking him multiple times in the head and upper body with a metal pipe. Ortiz was reportedly killed near a storage building behind Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Crockett.

The affidavit states an eyewitness placed some of the suspects, including Mata, near a Mustang at Mt. Olive Baptist Church on April 29. Hernandez was identified as the driver of the Mustang, and the witness said she had previously met him at that church.

When the witness arrived at the church, she saw Mata and two other men. All three told her to leave, saying she didn’t want to be involved in what was happening, according to the affidavit. The witness then returned home.

During a search on May 2, Houston County Pct. 3 Commissioner Gene Stokes informed the Houston County Sheriff’s Office that he had spotted what appeared to be a body along the banks of a creek. The sheriff’s office confirmed it was Ortiz and contacted the Texas Rangers to process the scene.

Ortiz was missing his left hand and had severe bruising across his body, including cuts and bruises to his scalp. The injuries were consistent with an assault involving a metal pipe, which was recovered near the storage building. Blood evidence was also found at the site.

On May 5, authorities located the Mustang at a trailer park in Crockett and impounded it for evidence. On May 6, Hernandez went to the sheriff’s office and confessed to being at Davy Crockett Park with two juveniles before meeting with Mata and others to discuss what to do about Ortiz. They then traveled in separate vehicles to the church, the document stated.

Hernandez said he returned to his RV and texted Ortiz, inviting him to smoke. Ortiz came to the RV, and Hernandez, along with the two juveniles, drove around Crockett to make Ortiz feel at ease. Eventually, they drove to the church on County Road 4020, where Mata and two other men were hiding in the woods. Once inside the storage building with Ortiz, Hernandez texted the others to let them know they were inside, according to the affidavit.

Hernandez told investigators that Mata and the other two men rushed in and began assaulting Ortiz. Ortiz was struck in the head with a gun, beaten with a metal pipe, and punched. The beating stopped when Ortiz ceased moving, the affidavit says.

Ortiz could be heard pleading with his attackers, saying he would no longer rob them and begging them to stop. His body was then loaded into the back of a truck driven by the two juveniles. Hernandez said he, Mata, and the others followed in another vehicle to the dump site. Everyone except Hernandez got out to dispose of Ortiz’s body in the ditch, according to the affidavit.

Hernandez said Mata and the others threatened to harm him and his family if he did not cooperate or if he talked about what had happened. After the interview, Hernandez was arrested.

In a separate interview, Mata provided a similar account. He said the two other adult suspects were the ones who struck Ortiz with a gun and what he believed was a stick. After the beating, Ortiz was placed in a vehicle and dumped in a ditch. Mata was also arrested following his interview.

Jail records indicate that the two other adult suspects have not yet been arrested.

Sheriff Zak Benge said on Friday that additional arrests are expected in connection with the case.