Travis County DA’s Office Secures Conviction for Man Charged with Double Murder

Travis County, TX — On Monday, May 13, 2024, a Travis County jury convicted Edgar Alejandro Barahona, 22, of two counts of Murder.

For Mr. Barahona’s trial, jury selection started on Monday, May 6, 2024, and testimony began the following day. On Monday, May 13, 2024, the jury deliberated and found Mr. Barahona guilty of two counts of Murder. On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the jury assessed his punishment at 35 years for each murder count to run concurrently and be served at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

On January 24, 2022, the Austin Police Department arrested Mr. Barahona and charged him with the murders of Juan Carlos Loarca-Villatoro, 26, and Heliodoro Arias-Flores, 28. Mr. Barahona was initially indicted on April 20, 2022, and on March 27, 2024, he was re-indicted on the same two counts of Murder.

The cases against Edgar Alejandro Barahona were prepared by Assistant District Attorneys Dominic Selvera, Jean Sullivan and Willa Cockshutt, with the support of Investigator Jesse Hernandez, Victim Counselor Raquel Pompey, Paralegal Cecilee Walker, Legal Secretary Ana-Laura Mujica, and Ms. Elizabeth Stoneking assisted with translations. Austin Police Department Homicide Detective Manuel Hernandez investigated Mr. Barahona’s cases.

“Our office is grateful to our dedicated staff and law enforcement partner who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and seek justice for the victims,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “We hope these verdicts bring closure and peace to the victims’ families.”

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