On Thursday, October 19, 2023, a man was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the January 2022 murder of his ex-girlfriend.
The Houston murder occurred in proximity to the family’s residence at a local park where the victim, Diamond Alvarez, was out walking her dog. The assailant, identified as Frank Deleon, was 17 years old at the time of the crime and has since turned 19. The prosecution revealed that Deleon shot Alvarez 22 times with several shots fired while she was laying on her back.
The underlying motive for this crime appears to be rooted in Deleon’s infidelity. After cheating on Alvarez, 16, it is presumed that Deleon aimed to silence her to keep the truth concealed. This narrative was supported by several text messages exchanged between Deleon and Alvarez, where he implored, “Don’t ruin this for me.”
The courtroom witnessed high tension when Deleon, as part of a plea agreement, confessed to the crime. Following a heartfelt victim impact statement by Anna Machado, Alvarez’s mother, the courtroom scenes turned tumultuous as she started moving towards Deleon but was swiftly halted by a bailiff.
At the same time, an uncle of Alvarez approached Deleon from behind, which escalated the situation further. This led to a brief altercation between Machado and Deleon’s mother.
Initially, Deleon’s court appearance was slated for Monday, but an unforeseen car accident prevented him from attending, as per his attorney. Following his arrest on a warrant, Deleon appeared in court on Tuesday, bearing visible injuries from the recent accident.
Expressing her sorrow and vexation, Machado noted, “All this time, he’s been laughing,” she stated. “Laughing, making fun, ‘it’s a joke.’ A life is not a joke. My daughter is not a joke.” This statement reflects the deep emotional toll the incident has placed on the bereaved family.
During the hearing, Anna Machado recounted the harrowing experience of finding her daughter’s lifeless body. “My son found her,” she disclosed. “I tried CPR, and I couldn’t bring her back. I tried so hard to keep her alive. I couldn’t.”
On the day of Deleon’s formal sentencing, the family of Alvarez chose to remain absent owing to threats received on social media along with fears of potential further violence. The district attorney reassured that law enforcement would act if any violence ensued. Alvarez’s aunt also urged against retaliation, stressing on the family’s desire for tranquility.
