Texas man allegedly kills 2 sons, sends pics to mother

[News_Editor]

Texas man allegedly kills 2 sons, sends pics to mother

2011-04-16 05:15:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

GRAHAM, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) -- A Texas man has been charged for the brutal murder of his two sons and sending pictures of the dead children to their mother, local authorities said Friday.

Gabriel Armandariz, 28, allegedly killed his two sons, 2-year-old Gatlin and six-month-old Luke, after sending several threatening messages to his ex-girlfriend Lauren Smith, who had been working as a waitress in the small town of Sudan, Texas, around 200 miles east of Lubbock, in order to gain custody of the children.

According to local reports, one of the messages Armandariz sent Smith Wednesday evening showed one of the children lifeless and hanged, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported. Unsure whether the image was authentic, Smith informed local police in Sudan.

However, police failed to locate Armandariz or the children until Thursday morning. The bodies were reportedly found under the house where the father had been living in Graham, Texas, which is around 75 miles northeast of Fort Worth.

Police have not released information on how the children were killed.

Armandariz and Smith broke up last October but no formal agreement existed regarding the custody of their children. According to reports, the father took the children for the weekend around two months ago but failed to return them to their mother despite a verbal agreement.

A court hearing regarding the children's custody had been scheduled for Monday after Armandariz failed to show up to a previous hearing last week.

Armandariz is currently under custody in the Young County Jail in Graham on a $1.5 million bond. Under Texas law, he could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole for his capital murder charge.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-16

[joe84330]

i'm sure he was simply a misunderstood soul and that with proper counseling and rehabilitation he will yet become a productive member of society.

[chuckd]

i'm sure he was simply a misunderstood soul and that with proper counseling and rehabilitation he will yet become a productive member of society.

This happened in Texas.

I don't think they offer rehabilitation on death row. :jap:

[Ulysses G.]

Don't you rednecks forget that he had his good points too. Killing his children does not make him a bad person.

Edited April 16, 2011 by Ulysses G.

[joe84330]

god bless texas.

[geriatrickid]

Everything is bigger in Texas, even the nature of crime.

I know these are auto news feeds and all, but sometimes I wish I didn't have to see the stories. It's just so depressing.