AUSTIN — AUSTIN -- Shawn Gant-Benalcazar, the man accused of killing an Austin choir teacher in 2014, will soon learn his fate as his trial began April 2.
Gant-Benalcazar was arrested Jan. 9, 2015, in Galveston, where he allegedly confessed to breaking into Austin choir teacher Kathy Blair's home on Tamarack Trail, stealing her jewelry and stabbing her several times in December 2014. Police said they believe Blair was asleep when Gant-Benalcazar broke into Blair's home. Blair's body was later found by her son, Joesph Hargis.
"I'm pretty sure I reached down to touch her," Hargis said. "I think it was pretty obvious to me at that point there wasn't a lot I could do, but I was still obviously in shock."
Gant-Benalcazar is charged with capital murder and burglary. He has pled not guilty, despite his previous confession.
"Ultimately the defendant told the police that he went to Kathy Blair's room, that she had been asleep," Travis County Assistant Andrea Austin said. "He had a knife out, she lunged at him, they fought over the knife and he stabbed her in the neck."
"Law enforcement went down there, we believe the evidence will show, with the expressed idea, planned purpose and intent to try and get him to confess to something he didn't do," defense attorney Ariel Payan said.
Austin said investigators found a bloody shoe print at the crime scene. Investigators believe it's the same brand and size Gant-Benalcazar wore.
Police said he is also connected to the deaths of 85-year-old Sidney Shelton and 83-year-old Billie Shelton. They were found dead in their Brentwood home in December 2014.
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Investigators said Timothy Parlin, 49, who had previously performed landscaping work at the choir teacher's house, picked up Gant-Benalcazar from Blair's home after the murder. Police believe Parlin is also a suspect in the deaths of the elderly couple.
Follow reporter Erin Jones for updates from the courtroom this week as the trial continues: