Press Coverage

Inmate Testifies Brothers Committed Murder, Not Duo In Prison

P. Christine Mills

Avalanche-Journal

Oscar Balderas is convinced that Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez did not shoot and kill Evangelina Cruz on Aug. 6, 1996, because he talked to whom he perceives to be the true killers shortly afterward in the Hockley County Jail, Balderas testified Tuesday in 99th District Court.

Balderas, wearing jail-issued clothing, testified in Sifuentes' and Ramirez's habeas corpus hearing as a mitigating witness who was never called during the men's 1998 trials.

Juries found Sifuentes and Ramirez guilty in separate trials, and the men have each served about seven years of life prison sentences for killing Cruz at the Jolly Roger convenience store in Littlefield. Their lawyers, with Haynes and Boone LLC of Dallas, on Monday began presenting new evidence and testimony that, the firm believes, shows their clients are innocent.

Sifuentes

Balderas testified that while he was incarcerated at the jail, two brothers were placed into the drunk tank. One brother, Balderas said, told him that they had robbed and killed a female clerk at the store. Before leaving the jail, Balderas told one woman and the former Hockley County sheriff of the tale he had heard, he said. After his release, he also told a friend. He provided some details of the incident.

No law enforcement investigator contacted him during the initial criminal investigation, Balderas said.

State Attorney General's Office attorney Tina Dettmer, representing the state, asked Balderas how he could have known so many details such a short time after the murder.

"People talk in jail, lady. They know more about what's going on than the free world," Balderas said.

Ramirez

Weeks later, Balderas was arrested for driving while intoxicated and placed into the Lamb County Jail. There, he met Sifuentes for the first time, he testified. Sifuentes told Balderas that he was accused of a murder he did not commit, Balderas said.

Balderas said he talked a bit about the murder with Sifuentes to gauge how any information Sifuentes had matched with what Balderas previously heard.

"He didn't mention too much about it so I figured it was time for me to stop asking questions," Balderas said.

The hearing resumes at 9 a.m. today, with law enforcement investigators and Lamb County prosecutors scheduled to testify.