Texas Fugitive Trevor McEuen, Who Fled on Day of Murder Trial, Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Neighbor Aaron Martinez

A Texas man who fled court on the first day of his murder trial and remained on the run for nearly a month has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his neighbor in what prosecutors described as an “act of hatred.”

Trevor McEuen, 33, was found guilty of capital murder in the May 2023 shooting death of 35-year-old Aaron Martinez in rural Kaufman County, according to reports from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, KLTV, and FOX 4. Prosecutors said McEuen shot Martinez more than 30 times with a semi-automatic rifle, calling the attack brutal and deliberate. McEuen, who testified in his own defense, claimed he fired out of fear, insisting that he believed his neighbor was going to harm him. His attorney, Abigail Spain, told the court that her client “used deadly force because he thought it was going to be used against him.”

Martinez’s family, however, described a long history of tension and harassment between the two men. They told CBS News that McEuen had previously made racist remarks toward their family and had followed them around the neighborhood, saying things like, “We don’t want you Spanish people in the area.” The family had urged prosecutors to charge McEuen with a hate crime, believing the murder was racially motivated.

Texas Fugitive Trevor McEuen, Who Fled on Day of Murder Trial, Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Neighbor Aaron Martinez

During the trial, McEuen’s ex-girlfriend and a landscaper testified that he had previously threatened them with a gun and even fired shots near them. Prosecutors also revealed that after killing Martinez, McEuen stole his phone to prevent him from calling for help.

The murder trial was originally set to begin on May 5, but McEuen failed to appear in court after removing his ankle monitor and fleeing the area. Authorities warned the public that he was armed and dangerous. After nearly a month on the run, McEuen was captured on June 2 near Grand Saline, Texas, following a SWAT standoff. Officers found him hiding under the floorboards of his grandparents’ house, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

On October 23, McEuen was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office later said in a statement that they hope the verdict brings the Martinez family “some measure of peace.”

Speaking after the sentencing, Aaron Martinez’s father, Salvador Martinez, told NBC 5, “Right now, the main thing is this guy stays forever behind bars — that he makes no more damage to nobody.”