PEARLAND, Texas — A man charged in the murder of a classmate told authorities he beat the victim to death and burned his body after the victim made “unwanted sexual overtures to him toward him,” according to court records.
Hermilo Moralez, 19, has been charged with murder in the apparent beating death of 18-year-old Joshua Wilkerson.
We are told by police that Moralez knew Wilkerson for about five years, that they were friends and that he often received rides home from school from Wilkerson. Now Moralez is in jail, accused of killing his own friend, reports KTRK-TV in Houston.
According to court documents, Wilkerson gave Moralez a ride home from school Tuesday and Moralez stated that Wilkerson began to make sexual advances towards him.
Moralez said they got out of the truck and began to fight when Wilkerson grabbed a large wooden rod and tried to hit him. Moralez said he took the piece of wood from Wilkerson and began to hit him with it. He said Wilkerson was not moving afterwards.
Wilkerson was a classmate of Moralez at Pace Institute, an alternative education school.
Moralez is being held without bond, and is also awaiting trial on an unrelated harassment charge.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
