Bryan Canchola, a 20-year-old from Texas has been charged with the murder of his boyfriend after a violent fight over suspected cheating.
The Austin American-Stateman reports, that the Texas man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly beating his 18-year-old boyfriend, Stephen Sylvester, to death. According to Canchola’s co-workers the pair had been dating for two months.
Sylvester was found unconscious by police at his home, but died later from injuries sustained in a brutal attack.
A roommate told police that he had heard fighting between the two boyfriends after he arrived home in the early morning and it was then that Canchola accused Sylvester of cheating. The fight apparently escalated with the roommate hearing “banging and violent crashing”.
According to arrest warrant affidavit the roommate also heard Sylvester’s pet dog crying out in pain after Canchola reportedly threatened to kill it.
The last picture on Stephen’s Instagram account is of Canchola and him in an embrace. In the profile section of his account Stephen wrote: “This is my life’s journey, Dare to follow?”
The roommate found Sylvester after the fight, conscious but with bleeding coming from the back of his head and transported him to University Medical Center Brackenridge. However, Sylvester left the hospital before receiving medical treatment. He returned back to his apartment.
Later, Canchola called the police to report that the 18-year-old was unconscious. He was once again rushed to the hospital but died of bleeding on the brain according to an autopsy. He also suffered a neck fracture.
Chanchola is in the Travis County Jail and his bail is set at $500,000
A friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help fund Stephen’s funeral.
