New details suggest murder suspect doesn’t really own tiger

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The big cat caper continues to grow, as the tiger seen wandering a West Houston neighborhood Sunday remains missing.

In various videos posted about the tiger, Victor Cuevas was seen ushering the tiger back into the house he lived in. Shortly after that, Houston police said Cuevas put the tiger in a white truck and took off. HPD lost Cuevas in a short chase, but now his attorney is maintaining that Cuevas does not own the tiger.

“I want help finding India,” said attorney Michael Elliott, who represents Cuevas.

Elliot claims the nine-month-old tiger named India is owned by another man nicknamed “D,” who has texted “death threats” to Cuevas.

was shown the texted threat, but could not independently verify it. Meanwhile, Cuevas is being held on a $50,000 bond and charged with evading police. This is unrelated to his pending murder charge stemming from a 2017 incident near his Richmond area family home.

Elliott said he finds it hard to believe that HPD lost Cuevas and the tiger during a chase.

“This is Houston, Harris County,” he said. “They have police in every corner, Motorola radios, Fox (helicopter) in the air. How often do you see people running in an SUV that doesn’t get caught? Something doesn’t match up here.”

You can legally own a tiger in Texas, but not inside the city of Houston limits. Cuevas is not charged with anything relating to the tiger specifically.

Cuevas’ Instagram feeds show him previously cuddling a baby bear, two monkeys, and a tiger. His attorney says a tiger on his client’s social media page does not prove he owns a tiger.

Houston police calls Elliott’s version of events “conflicting,” but did not elaborate. For now, Cuevas remains in the Fort Bend County jail.

The whereabouts of the tiger remain a mystery.