David Santiago Renteria

Case details

David Santiago Renteria (TDCJ Number 999460) was born on 11/22/1969 and was received into custody at age 33. He had an education level of 11.

Renteria was a male of Native American (other) race, with black hair. His height was 05'05" and his weight was 182. His eye color was brown.

Renteria worked previously as a warehouse worker and laborer in El Paso, Texas. He had a prior prison record #1005139 on a 20 year sentence for indecency with a child from El Paso County.

Co-defendants were listed as none.

The offence

On November 18, 2001, in El Paso, Texas, Renteria abducted a 5 year old hispanic female, Alexandra Flores (DOB: 09/14/1996). He fatally choked her and burned her body.

Renteria was charged by indictment with the capital murder of A. F., a child under the age of six. The State filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty.

The complaint affidavit described the offense as capital murder by intentionally and knowingly causing the death of an individual, to-wit: Alexandra Flores (DOB: 09/14/1996), under six years of age.

Investigation

The body of victim Flores was found at 1220 N. Oregon, east alley.

Physical evidence and latent prints were collected at the crime scene and from the victim's person. An autopsy revealed that the manner of death was MANUAL STRANGULATION/HOMICIDAL. The complaint affidavit stated a plastic bag had been placed over the victim's head, and EPPD latent print expert identified a latent print developed from the plastic bag as having been made by the defendant's right palm.

The affidavit further stated that a vehicle registered to the defendant was at 9441 Alameda at the time and date of the victim's disappearance. It also stated that by his own admission, the defendant places himself at the said location at the time and date of the victim's disappearance.

Background

At a bond hearing, five exhibits were admitted into evidence in support of the State’s contention that bail should be denied.

The second exhibit was an order on Renteria's plea of guilty to the charge of indecency with a child committed on August 11, 1992. The order indicated Renteria was placed on ten years' deferred adjudication.

The third exhibit was a judgment of conviction from a previous felony offense of driving while intoxicated committed on June 18, 2000. Renteria was sentenced to ten years' incarceration and the court granted shock probation for the offense.

The fourth exhibit was a motion to adjudicate guilt on the cause related to indecency with a child.

The fifth exhibit was a motion to revoke probation on the cause related to driving while intoxicated.

Both Renteria and his father testified at the hearing.

Both Renteria and his father testified to Renteria's ties to Mexico.

Arrest

The record did not provide an arrest section separate from the bond hearing evidence.

Trial

The record did not provide a trial section separate from the bond hearing appellate discussion. Renteria was charged with capital murder and the State filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty.

The trial court denied bond, finding proof evident of a capital offense.

Appeals

Renteria brought an appeal challenging the trial court’s denial of bond and the finding that proof was evident for such a denial.

The case was before the COURT OF APPEALS EIGHTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS EL PASO, TEXAS, No. 08-02-00072-CR.

The appeal was from the 41st District Court of El Paso County, Texas.

The opinion stated: Appellant, David Santiago Renteria, was charged by indictment with the capital murder of A. Appellant filed a motion to set or reduce bond. After a hearing on Appellant's motion, the trial court denied bond, finding proof evident of a capital offense. Appellant now brings this appeal challenging the trial court's denial of bond and finding that proof is evident for such a denial. We affirm.

The opinion described the bond denial standard and the required showing for proof evident in capital cases, including discussion of: Ex parte Lackey, Tex.Const. art. I, ' 11; Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art 16.15 (Vernon 1977); Beck v. State; Ex parte Alexander; Ex parte Wilson; Lee v. State.

Quotations

IN THE NAME AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared, Det. Arturo Ruiz Jr. #993, who after being by me duly sworn, on oath deposes and says that he has good reason to believe and does believe that heretofore to wit, on or about the 18th day of November, 2001, and before the filing of this Complaint in the County of El Paso, the State of Texas, one David Santiago RENTERIA (11/22/1969) hereinafter called DEFENDANT, did then and there unlawfully, commit the offense of CAPITAL MURDER by intentionally and knowingly causing the death of an individual to-wit: Alexandra FLORES (DOB: 09/14/1996) under SIX years of age.

Outcome

The appellate court affirmed the trial court’s decision denying bond. The opinion stated that the trial court's ruling was affirmed and that no abuse of discretion by the trial court was shown.

The opinion was signed by David Wellington Chew, Justice, with the date October 3, 2002.

Timeline

• 11/18/2001 — In El Paso, Texas, Renteria abducted Alexandra Flores (DOB: 09/14/1996), then fatally choked her and burned her body; the complaint affidavit stated her body was later found at 1220 N. Oregon, east alley.
• 11/19/2001 — The body of victim Flores was found at 1220 N. Oregon, east alley at approx. 7:10 AM.
• 06/18/2000 — Renteria committed driving while intoxicated; he was sentenced to ten years' incarceration and shock probation was granted.
• 08/11/1992 — Renteria committed indecency with a child and entered a plea of guilty; he was placed on ten years' deferred adjudication.
• 10/03/2002 — The appellate opinion was issued by David Wellington Chew, Justice.
• 11/20/2003 — Renteria was sentenced to death on November 20, 2003.

Other details

At the bond hearing, Exhibit No. 1 was admitted over the hearsay objection of the defense. Renteria did not challenge the admission of this evidence on appeal.

The appellate opinion stated that the only issue before the court was the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the trial court’s decision to deny bail.

The appellate opinion discussed whether future dangerousness and mitigating circumstances would be considered under Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 37.071, ' 2(b) and ' 2(e), and it stated that Renteria’s brief did not deal specifically with mitigating circumstances under Tex.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. art. 37.071, ' 2(e).

The complaint affidavit included store surveillance details: it stated that on 11/18/2001 at the listed location 9441 Alameda (Wal-Mart Super Center), victim Flores was captured on store surveillance camera exiting the store at approx. 5:15 PM with an unknown male. Shortly thereafter, the parents of victim Flores realized that the victim was missing, and a search of the store for victim Flores was fruitless.