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In Houston, Texas, a Spring Branch man has received two life sentences for the 2017 murder of a couple whose bodies were found a day apart. Herbert James Simon, 42 years old, was convicted of murder and aggravated kidnapping after a five-day trial, announced Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
According to authorities, Simon and another individual, Josue Casco, who is currently in federal custody, were implicated in the deaths of Robert Cerda and Rachel Delarosa, both 29 years old, on December 11, 2017.
The couple had been on a date and had dinner at Connie’s restaurant before heading to a nearby barber shop, frequented by friends, which was closed at the time. Inside the shop, Cerda spoke with several acquaintances when Simon allegedly shot him in the back and subsequently fired multiple additional shots, resulting in his death.
Following Cerda’s murder, Casco reportedly abducted Delarosa, drove her to a rural area near Fresno, and fatally shot her with the same weapon used to kill Cerda. Delarosa’s body, partially clothed and with multiple gunshot wounds, was discovered near a retention pond by the Creekmont North subdivision in Missouri City, just 90 minutes after she had finished dinner with Cerda.
Surveillance footage captured a vehicle leaving the area that was later identified as matching Casco’s vehicle, according to investigators.
District Attorney Ogg stated that Casco returned to the barber shop with materials including a tarp, rope, and cleaning supplies. Together with Simon, they allegedly wrapped Cerda’s body, cleaned the crime scene, and placed Cerda’s body in the trunk of Casco’s car before dumping it in a rural area near the Eastex Freeway in north Houston, where it was found the following day.
The case remained unsolved until 2022 when a tipster provided information to authorities, leading to charges against both men.
Casco is expected to be extradited to Harris County to face trial for capital murder.