Bio

Miguel Angel Paredes was born on August 8, 1982, in Cook County, Illinois. He was the youngest of 20 siblings. His family moved to Mexico when he was a child to escape the gang violence in Chicago. Later, they settled in San Antonio, Texas, seeking better opportunities.

At a young age, he was already involved in criminal activities, which led to his imprisonment as a juvenile. He joined the Hermanos Pistoleros Latinos, a prison gang known for drug-related crimes and violent activities.

At just 18 years old, he was heavily involved in gang life. During this time, he was arrested and charged with various crimes, including gun violence. Despite his young age, he had already established a reputation within the gang for his violent behavior.

Murder Story

On September 17, 2000, in San Antonio, Texas, Miguel Angel Paredes and two fellow gang members, John Anthony Saenz and Greg Alvarado, committed triple murder. This violent act occurred inside Saenz's home when the trio ambushed three individuals: Adrian Torres, Nelly Bravo, and Shawn Michael Cain.

Paredes and Alvarado were armed with shotguns and a handgun. When Torres, Bravo, and Cain arrived to discuss an outstanding drug debt, the situation escalated quickly. At around 1:00 PM, Saenz excused himself to grab a syringe, but instead, he retrieved a shotgun from the garage where Paredes was hiding. Saenz returned to the kitchen and shot Torres in the neck. Following this, Paredes emerged to shoot Bravo and Cain.

After the murders, the group worked to cover up the crime. They cleaned the house, tore out carpets, and repainted walls to eliminate any evidence. They then transported the bodies about 50 miles away to Frio County, where they were dumped and set on fire in the countryside.

Witnesses later provided testimony that linked Paredes to the murders. One acquaintance, Tomas Ayala, testified that he overheard details of the crime from Saenz, who claimed that Paredes had shot both Bravo and Cain. Evidence indicated that Paredes played a significant role in these killings, as he was involved with the planning and execution of the violent act, and he assisted in the aftermath and disposal of the victims’ bodies.

The prosecution presented this information during Paredes's trial. He was charged with capital murder, and the jury found him guilty, leading to a death sentence handed down on November 9, 2001. After various appeals and a lengthy legal process, Paredes was executed by lethal injection on October 28, 2014.