Jurors in Ruben Gonzalez murder trial begin deliberations

Jury deliberations began Monday in the murder trial of the man accused of causing the death of a Willacy County teenager.

Ruben Gonzalez is one of three people charged in 2022 with murder and four counts of assault on a child in connection with the death of 13-year-old Jesse Harrison Jr.

According to previous reports, the teenager died in January 2021 after being hospitalized with breathing difficulties.

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The indictment against Gonzalez and two other suspects says Harrison was beaten and starved before his death.

Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The state and defense concluded their arguments on Monday after five days of testimony and evidence. The jury deliberated for about 30 minutes and was then dismissed for the day.

Harrison's mother and grandmother – Sabrina Loredo and Antonia Villarreal Gonzalez – are also charged in his death.

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Ruben Gonzalez was previously identified as the boyfriend of Antonia Villarreal Gonzalez.

Both women were called to the witness stand on Monday, but they invoked their Fifth Amendment right not to testify. Both women are scheduled to appear in court in October.

Prosecutor Lucia Regalado reminded jurors on Monday of the evidence they had been presented with, including a video of Harrison in a virtual classroom in 2021 in which he slurred his words and appeared disoriented.

In previous testimony, relatives and friends of Harrison had stated that the teenager had been abused by Ruben Gonzalez.

Defense attorney Nat Perez said his client was not responsible for Harrison's death. Instead, he blamed Loredo for denying her son medical care after a pediatrician hospitalized him for an infection.

Harrison's autopsy revealed that the teenager had died of sepsis, not starvation.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.