KYLE — Edward Jesus Hernandez, 22, has been arrested for the Christmas day murder of 30-year-old Josué Javier Soto.
Edward Jesus Hernandez[/caption]
At approximately 6:47 p.m. on Dec. 25, 2023, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call in the 300 block of Railyard Drive in Kyle where deputies located Josué deceased.
Hernandez, Soto’s brother-in-law, was observed walking away from the scene and detained.
The victim’s wife, Heschel Soto, stated that Hernandez moved onto the property approximately one week prior and experiences “frequent paranoid episodes.”
On the date of the altercation, the suspect was in the victim’s apartment and became concerned because Josué’s child fell asleep in his arms and appeared “lethargic.”
According to the arrest warrant, Heschel explained that the child had a busy day and missed naptime. Josué put the child down to sleep and Hernandez, believing the child may need medical attention, became distressed and grabbed the victim’s phone to call law enforcement.
An altercation ensued and the suspect pulled out a knife and lunged at Josué, who “ran away, yelling for Mrs. Soto to go inside and lock the door.”
Deputies spoke to a neighbor on the property, who stated that he heard Josué yelling and asking him to open the front door. The neighbor opened the door to see an unknown male “stab” the victim in the back. According to the neighbor, Josué collapsed after he pulled him inside and closed the door.
During a custodial interview, Hernandez confessed to using a knife to “attack” the victim and that he “killed” him due to a belief that he injured the child, according to court documents
Both children on the property were observed by deputies and “appeared in good health.”
Hernandez was booked into the Hays County Jail on Monday, Dec. 26 and is being held on a $250,000 bond for the murder charge, along with a $5,000 bond for a Travis County warrant.
