Houston Police Charge Inmate in 2025 Fatal Stabbing of 16-Year-Old Found in Vacant Lot

HOUSTON, Texas – A man already serving time in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has been charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy whose body was found in a vacant lot near the Katy Freeway last year.

Marcus Fernandez, 61, has been charged with murder in the 488th Criminal District Court in connection with the death of Franklin Torres-Concho, according to the Houston Police Department.

The investigation began on Sept. 30, 2025, when officers responded at approximately 7:50 a.m. to the 4500 block of the Katy Freeway service road after receiving a report of a person down.

Officers found Torres-Concho unresponsive in a vacant lot suffering from multiple stab wounds. Paramedics pronounced the 16-year-old dead at the scene.

Houston Police homicide detectives determined that Torres-Concho was known to frequent the Katy Freeway corridor near Shepherd Drive, Yale Street, West 11th Street and Washington Avenue.

After months of investigation, detectives identified Fernandez as the suspect in the killing.

On July 30, 2026, investigators filed a murder charge against Fernandez, who is currently in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on unrelated charges.

Houston police have not released a motive for the killing or additional details about the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing.

The investigation remains ongoing.