SAN ANGELO, TX – This morning, the courthouse was filled with family members and friends of murdered Jimmy Andrew Gonzalez and Anthony Michael Martinez as the first Pre-Trial for Raymond Alvarado, Jr., 28, who is charged with Murder of Multiple Persons and Terror Threat/Other, began.
Several boxes of tissue were passed around the room, while sniffles echoed and tears fell from the family members and friends as they waited for court to begin. Judge Ben Woodward of the 51st Court District entered the courtroom shortly after 9 a.m., and engaged in a quick Pre-Trial for a man charged with delivery of marijuana and Driving While Intoxicated before turning his attention to Raymond Alvarado, Jr.
Alvarado’s Pre-Trial began with a formal arraignment, read out loud by State Attorney Allison Palmer. As Palmer read out the names of Jimmy Gonzalez and Michael Martinez, the courtroom filled with outcries and tissues once again passed through the rows of family and friends. After the arraignment, a representative of Alvarado’s team of attorneys, led by Jenny Henley, Jessica Skinner, and two other female members, announced that Alvarado “will plead not guilty at this time.”
A few more legalities were taken care of before the attorneys and Judge Woodward proceeded to debate future trial dates.
Palmer estimated that further Pre-Trials could begin as early as late summer of 2017, and jury selection as early as the beginning of 2018.
However, the defense attorneys argued that there was “no way for [them] to be ready” for a fall trial. They added, “Spring of 2018 would give us the time to get ready,”and agreed with Palmer that additional Pre-Trial’s will be needed before the suggested jury date.
One of the main reasons why scheduling Pre-Trials can be difficult is because of biological evidence, which Palmer said “takes the longest” to get results from.
In the end, Judge Woodword ruled, “I will set a March [2017] Pre-Trial,” but gave the attorneys the ability to cancel should they “decide it is not needed.”
Below is a timeline of events, as well as LIVE’s coverage, since the tragic double homicide occurred in September of 2016.
- September 9, 2016 - Officers responded to shots fired in the 1000 block of Rio Grande at 10:30 p.m where they found two victims of gunshot wounds.
- September 14, 2016 - Two men, Ricky Ray Ortegon Zuniga (25) and Justin Gamez (27), were arrested in connection to the double homicide and charged with Murder of Multiple Persons.
- September 16, 2016 - The search for Raymond Alvarado Jr. began as SAPD issued an arrest warrant.
- September 21, 2016 - Krystal Nicole Sanchez (27) got booked into Tom Green County Jail and charged with Murder of Multiple Persons.
- September 23, 2016 - An official affidavit on the murder of Jimmy Andrew Gonzalez and Anthony Michael Martinez was released.
- October 20, 2016 - Crime Stoppers of San Angelo initiated the help of the public to aid in finding Raymond Alvarado, Jr., who was still at large. Crime Stoppers offered a $1,000 cash reward.
- December 1, 2016 - Ricky Ray Ortegon Zuniga (25) was indicted by a grand jury.
- December 8, 2016 - Raymond Alvarado, Jr. was found in Lansing, Michigan with the help of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force.
- December 22, 2016 - Raymond Alvarado Jr. was booked into the Tom Green County Jail at around 3 a.m. on a $500,000 bond.
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