Erath County jury finds man guilty in stabbing death of Eleno Trejo.
Updated: Feb 24, 2023
An Erath County jury on Wednesday found Juan Jose Vallejo Nunez guilty of murder in the stabbing death of 40-year-old Eleno Trejo and sentenced him to 21 years in prison.
Retired Tarrant County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Nizam Peerwani was the first witness called to the stand on Wednesday.
Nunez is accused of killing Trejo at an Erath County dairy on Nov. 3, 2019.
Dr. Peerwani testified that Trejo suffered three stab wounds to the chest, scalp and abdomen and showed no defensive wounds.
Nunez’s attorney Heath Allen suggested that an injury to the defendant’s hand indicated a struggle between the men, but based on photos, Dr. Peerwani said the injury could have been the result of a “slice” that happened during the assault.
Lt. David Southerland with the Erath County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Nunez following the incident, which was played for jurors.
Through a translator, Nunez told Southerland the dispute between the men started because Trejo was angry that Nunez was seeing a married woman and told her husband about the affair.
Nunez said he went to Trejo’s house on the night of Nov. 3, 2019 to talk, but admitted to bringing two knives with him to “scare” Trejo.
Nunez went on to describe a physical confrontation between the men – claiming Trejo attacked first – and Nunez defended himself by stabbing Trejo.
The sentencing phase will begin Thursday.
