Two Suspected MS-13 Gang Members Accused of Killing Houston Teen in ‘Satanic’ Ritual

Two suspected members of the MS-13 gang have been charged with allegedly murdering a Houston 15-year-old girl as part of a “Satanic” ritual, PEOPLE confirms.

Miguel Angel Alvarez-Flores, 22, and Diego Alexander Hernandez-Rivera, 18, were charged with murder Wednesday, a Harris County Clerk official tells PEOPLE. The victim has not been publicly identified.

The pair have also been charged in the kidnapping of another girl, 14, who alleged she was held against her will and raped by the gang members for 14 days, according to Fox News.

Police allege the fatal victim, a 14-year-old, and a 16-year-old were all held hostage in the same Houston apartment. Alvarez-Flores and Hernandez-Rivera were arrested Feb. 27 after the apartment was raided, Sgt. Chris Sturdivant of the Houston Police Department said at a Friday press conference.

On Wednesday, Alvarez-Flores and Hernandez-Rivera appeared in a Harris County courtroom on kidnapping and murder charges. During the hearing, Harris County prosecutors detailed an eye-witness account given by the 14-year-old, who police said escaped from the apartment and was reunited with her parents, KPRC reports.

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According to prosecutors, the 14-year-old alleged that while being held at the apartment on Glenmont Road, gang members raped her and forced her to drink alcohol and take drugs, KPRC reports.

The girl also said that during her time at the apartment, she met another girl who investigators believe was the fatal victim.

The 14-year-old alleged to investigators that the fatal victim disappeared from the apartment one night after



she disrespected the gang’s Satanic shrine, which allegedly led Alvarez-Flores to announce that the “Beast” required a soul sacrifice, the Houston Chronicle reports.

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Following their arrest, both Alvarez-Flores and Hernandez-Rivera allegedly admitted to being involved in the 15-year-old’s killing, Sturdivant said at the press conference.

Prosecutors allege that Hernandez-Rivera told investigators he and Alvarez-Flores took the fatal victim from the apartment and drove her to a patch of grass on the side of the road, according to the Chronicle.

Moments before the teen’s death, Alvarez-Flores allegedly told Hernandez-Rivera that it was “time to take action.” Hernandez-Rivera allegedly shot the girl in the head, and as they walked back to the vehicle, Alvarez-Flores allegedly turned around and fired another shot into her torso, KPRC reports.

On Friday, Sturdivant announced that there was a third girl found at the apartment— a 16-year-old— who has since been reunited with her family.

“We are dealing with 14, 15, 16-year-old girls who are very impressionable young women,” Sturdivant said. “Regardless if they were there willfully or against their will, what happened is against the law and was wrong.”

Officials believe Alvarez-Flores and Hernandez-Rivera are living in the country illegally after coming from El Salvador, Sturdivant said. The Department of Homeland Security is currently investigating their immigration status.

Both suspects remain in Harris County jail under $300,000 bond. It is unclear at this time whether they have entered pleas or have been appointed attorneys.