Police: Witch Doctor and 3 Suspects Involved in Murder of Texas Physician

BALLINGER, TX – After the Runnels County Sheriff’s Office investigated a home invasion and robbery, they were able to provide DPS and the Weslaco Police Department with the information that led to the arrest of three suspects involved in the murder of a Weslaco doctor in November of last year.

According to KRGV, the victim, Dr. John Jesus Dominguez, sustained a conversation with a curandero or black magic doctor that led to his death. Dr. Dominguez confided to the curandero that he was being extorted. 

During their investigation, Weslaco Police officers were able to discover that the curandero had provided details of his conversation with Dr. Dominguez to 31-year-old Josue Torres Benavidez. Torres then recruited Joel Ismael Gonzalez, 17, of Alamo and Luis Antonio Valenzuela, 19, of Weslaco. Gonzalez and Valenzuela planned to kidnap the doctor and hold him for ransom.

On November 7, 2019, Gonzalez and Valenzuela approached the doctor in a parking lot. The suspects, in a black car, approached the doctor’s white car. Surveillance video shows the black car approach the white car, someone exits the black car and fires a pistol at the white car. Dr. Dominguez sped away, but moments later he was involved in a crash.

"We believe that the motor vehicle collision is what caused the doctor's death, and not necessarily the shooting," said Weslaco Police Department Police Chief Joel Rivera

Torres, Gonzalez, and Valenzuela have been charged with murder, a first-degree felony. The curandero is currently incarcerated in state prison.