HOUSTON -- The teenager whose burned body was found in March was a casualty of her father's drug-running, according to court documents unsealed Wednesday.
The 12-page search warrant affidavit reveals news details in the murders of Adriana Coronado, 14, and her father, Cesar Coronado. The teen was the subject of an Amber Alert in March.
Investigators believe the two were killed because of Cesar Coronado's involvement in the deadly cocaine trade. The man in custody on federal drug charges, Jose Solis Jr., has been named a person of interest in the murders. The search warrant was for his home in rural Montgomery County.
According to the affidavit, Solis is the man captured on video running away from where Cesar Coronado's burned truck was found.
It also says he worked with Cesar Coronado, among others, to move cocaine via commercial bus from Laredo to Houston. Last October, federal agents seized 16 kilograms of cocaine from a bus and $48,000 from Coronado at the Mexican border, and the affidavit suggests Solis became suspicious that Cesar Coronado was involved.
At Coronado's apartment in west Houston, detectives found bloody foot and shoe prints as well as a federal subpoena last seen in Solis' possession. They questioned whether he was sending an "unknown message."
Adriana's disappearance triggered an Amber Alert and frantic search before her body was found burned with bullet wounds in west Houston. The affidavit says they also found evidence of sexual assault.
Cesar Coronado's body was also found burned but in Walker County. Investigators believe the same gun was used to kill both father and daughter. In March, officers removed several guns, ammunition, cash and drugs from Solis' home.
In response, Juan Guerra, Solis' attorney told KTRK-TV, Eyewitness News' sister station in Houston:
"We ask the public to reserve judgment until all the evidence has been collected and evaluated. This case is still a very active and ongoing investigation. Mr. Solis, being named a person of interest, does not mean that he is involved in the planning, carrying out, or tampering of evidence."
Wednesday night, Adriana Coronado's aunt still questioned why the teen was killed and maintained the family had no idea about Cesar Coronado's alleged criminal activity.