Texas Prosecutors Drop Murder Charges in High-Profile Case

Prosecutors in Texas have decided to drop murder charges against two individuals involved in the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Seattle woman, Marisela Botello-Valadez. The trial, however, is ongoing for the third defendant.

The incident, which occurred in 2020, gained international attention when two of the suspects, who had been released on bond, cut off their ankle monitors and fled the country. This incident raised concerns about the use of technology in pre-trial release. Recently, a Texas man who also removed his ankle monitor went on a shooting rampage, reigniting the debate surrounding the effectiveness of such monitoring systems.

The trial for Lisa Dykes, the remaining defendant facing murder charges, commenced last week and is still in progress. Court records that have been made public now reveal that the judge approved the prosecutors' motions on Friday to dismiss the murder charges against the other woman and man involved in Botello-Valadez's killing, citing "the interest of justice."

Lawyers for the pair and for Dykes didn't respond to calls and emails seeking comment. An attorney who represents Marano, 52, and Dykes, 60, told a local newspaper he expected the dismissals because Beltran's account of events has been inconsistent.

Beltran, 34, testified Friday that he lived with Marano and Dykes. He said he met Botello-Valadez at a nightclub and the two went to his house, where they had sex. He said he fell asleep and awoke to screaming as Dykes stabbed Botello-Valadez. Under questioning by Dykes' lawyer, Beltran acknowledged that he initially lied to investigators about what happened.

The three were arrested six months after Botello-Valadez went missing in October 2020. Marano and Dykes were released on $500,000 bonds but last Christmas they simultaneously removed their GPS trackers and left the country, according to court records. They eventually turned up in Cambodia, where they were arrested by local police with help from the FBI.

Another Dallas killing last year prompted Texas lawmakers to enact a law making it a felony to cut off an ankle monitor.

The implementation of the new measure took place in September, shortly after authorities in San Antonio were informed about a man who had previously removed his ankle monitor and was experiencing a mental health crisis.

During the incident in August, Sheriff's deputies did not apprehend the man, Shane James Jr. However, he has now been charged with capital murder for a series of shootings that resulted in the death of six individuals in Austin and San Antonio this month.