Lucio G. Carmona III (left) is pictured with his grandfather Lucio Carmona Sr. COURTESY PHOTO | LILLY CARMONA
Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators worked swiftly to arrest two individuals on Thursday, Jan. 5 in connection with the alleged murder of a 25-year-old man, who was found deceased on Tessman Road north of the city limits of Pleasanton on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
David Taije Castleberry, 25, and Clarissa Guillen, 21, were taken into custody within 48 hours of the alleged murder of Lucio Gustavo Carmona III after an extensive investigation and surveillance on Thursday that led to the arrest in San Antonio. Both are currently in the Atascosa County Jail held on an $800,000 bond.
“We were able to wrap this investigation up within 48 hours,” Atascosa County Sheriff Soward said. “That doesn’t happen often but it’s a good thing when it does.”
In a press conference held on Friday, Jan. 6, Sheriff Soward said that a call was received about 6:49 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, reporting a body found on the side of the road north of Pleasanton, just outside of the city limits on Tessman Road near Haverlah Road. The body was later identified as Carmona of San Antonio.
Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward (left) held a press conference on Friday, Jan. 6, regarding the murder of Lucio Carmona III of San Antonio whose body was found on Tessman Road in Pleasanton. Aiding in the investigation (right) was Chief Deputy Sheriff Jake Guerra. DANIEL ELIZONDO | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
The ACSO investigation and autopsy determined that Carmona had died of a gunshot wound. Sheriff Soward said that investigators recovereda9mm gun from a vehicle used by Castleberry and Guillen. That weapon is believed to be the weapon used in the murder, according to Soward.
According to the investigation,
Sheriff Soward said that the place where the body was found is the scene of the crime as well.
During the investigation, ACSO authorities were able to determine who was last seen with Carmona on
Tuesday evening around 4:30 p.m. According to Sheriff Soward, Castleberry, Guillen and Carmona had become acquainted recently in San Antonio.
ACSO Criminal Investigators set up surveillance in San Antonio on Thursday, January 5 at a location off of Old Highway 90 West in San Antonio. Castleberry and Guillen later arrived in an alleged stolen vehicle out of Bexar County. Sheriff Soward said Castleberry had warrants for a parole violation and drug possession, and Guillen had warrants for possession of a stolen vehicle out of Louisiana. Both were taken into custody.
David Taije Castleberry
On Thursday evening, both allegedly confessed to the crime and both were charged with murder. Sheriff Soward said that charges will be upgraded to capital murder at a later date.
According to Sheriff Soward, details on the crime are still pending, however he believes the motive was robbery. He also noted that he believes the suspects and the victim do not have any ties to Atascosa County or Pleasanton.
“We’re fortunate not to deal with this on a daily basis,” Sheriff Soward said. “Things of this nature are tragic, and everybody has a family. It’s going to hit someone real hard.”
According to Carmona’s sister, Lilly, he had recently been spending a lot of quality time with his family including his grandfather Lucio Carmona Sr. His father, Lucio Carmona Jr., passed away in 2009, and Lilly said her brother resembles their dad.
Clarissa Guillen
“My sisters and I cherished every second with our brother because it felt like we were seeing a ghost,” she said. “My brother looked exactly like our dad, so we will forever hold our dearest brother in our hearts because it’s like we lost our dad all over again. I’m just going to do my part to keep his name alive.”
Capital murder charges in Texas carry a punishment of life without parole or the death penalty.
According to records, Castleberry was previously arrested in Shreveport, Louisiana in February 2021 on possession of schedule II narcotics and drug paraphernalia. He served in a Caddo Parish correctional facility.
“I was fortunate enough to get closer to my brother and we had so much in common,” Lilly said. “I was the last one in the family to be with him for New Years before he was murdered. Rest in paradise my brother, lil Lucio. He was everything to me.”