An El Paso man arrested on suspicion of murder allegedly told the victim’s sister, “I hit your brother,” and as the victim laid on a bloody mattress, he added, “see, he’s okay,” a complaint affidavit states.
Stefon Anthony Bonito, 25, was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the beating death of Alberto Bustamante, 47, El Paso Police Department spokesman Officer Adrian Cisneros said in a news release. A complaint affidavit states the fatal beating happened around May 15, with the victim being found by his sister on May 18.
The murder charge was filed after the El Paso County Medical Examiners’ Office notified police on June 6 that Bustamante died from multiple skull fractures and other injuries he suffered in a beating, the news release and a criminal complaint affidavit state.
No attorney is named in court records for Bonito.
‘I hit your brother, ‘ El Paso murder suspect tells victim’s sister
Bustamante’s sister told police she went to her brother’s apartment about 11:30 a.m. on May 18 in the 6600 block of Alameda Avenue in the Ascarate Park area. She went because she could not reach Bustamante by phone.
She walked to the apartment door and was approached by Bonito. He allegedly told her, “I hit your brother,” the affidavit states. The sister entered the apartment and saw what appeared to be blood on Bustamante’s mattress and pillow.
Bonito followed the sister into the room, telling her, “see, he’s okay,” the affidavit states. The sister told Bonito to leave the apartment. The sister saw a dent on her brother’s head and tried to ask him what happened, but because of the injuries, he was unable to speak and was only making grunting noises.
She drove Bustamante to The Hospitals of Providence Sierra Campus. He was taken by hospital staff to University Medical Center and was placed in the intensive care unit. He was later moved to Grace Pointe Wellness Center hospice, where he died from his injuries on June 6, the affidavit states.
‘That’s what you get’
Police officers interviewed an employee from a nearby auto parts store on June 9 as part of their investigation.
The employee said he saw Bustamante on May 15 near an apartment complex with blood dripping down the right side of his face, the affidavit states. There was also a pool of blood near Bustamante.
Bonito was allegedly about three feet away from Bustamante. The employee heard Bonito angrily yell at Bustamante. The employee believes Bonito said, “that’s what you get for being a (expletive),” or for “getting stupid,” the affidavit states.
As the employee walked away from the scene, Bonito told him, “I’m sorry you had to see all that,” the affidavit states. The employee nodded and walked away. The employee knew Bonito from the area and identified him in a police photo lineup.
Bonito asked the employee the next day if his surveillance cameras captured the front of his apartment. He told the employee that he wanted the video because someone had stolen something of his, the affidavit states. The employee said he did not have access to the surveillance cameras.
Victim had multiple skull fractures
An autopsy performed on Bustamante showed he had multiple skull fractures and blunt head trauma, the affidavit states. A medical examiner ruled the cause of death as homicide.
Officers located and arrested Bonito without incident on June 9 on suspicion of murder. He was booked into the El Paso County jail on June 10.
Jail records show his bond was set at $250,000. He remains jailed as of Monday, June 15, jail logs show.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: ‘See, he’s okay,’ El Paso man arrested for allegedly fatally beating man
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
