EDINBURG – A jury sentenced an Edinburg man to life in prison without parole for the murder of two people.

A jury was selected on May 19, 2022 and testimony began on May 23, 2022. The jury reached a verdict on June 3, 2022 and found Gabriel Keith Escalante, 43, guilty of Count 1 – Capital Murder of Multiple Persons; Count 2 – Murder; and Count 3 – Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair. He was sentenced on June 6, 2022 to life without parole in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Institutional Division.

The case went before the Honorable Judge Luis M. Singleterry of the 92^nd District Court. The case was prosecuted by Felony Division Assistant District Attorney’s Andrew Almaguer, Reuben Delgado and Jacob Salinas; with assistance by Court Advocate Bianca Gomez; Edinburg Police Department Investigator Rudy Gonzalez and Crime Scene Investigator Joel Pulido; and Forensic Pathologist Norma Jean Farley, M.D.

“I commend ADA’s Andrew Almaguer, Reuben Delgado and Jacob Salinas for their diligence and hard work in receiving a guilty verdict on this case. I also want to thank the Edinburg Police Department for their thorough investigation that helped ensure a conviction,” said Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr.

On April 28, 2018, Olivia and Alejandro Salinas (mother and son) were reported missing by family members to Edinburg Police Department. Officers and investigators were dispatched to the Salinas’ home where their deceased bodies were found hidden towards the back of their property. Escalante was arrested by Edinburg Police on April 29, 2018. He was found in possession of their vehicle and personal belongings. Forensic blood evidence along with information that the defendant had stolen and sold their personal belongings ultimately led to his arrest for the murders. The co-defendant’s case remains pending.