HOUSTON – A Harris County judge has denied bond for a suspect accused in Tuesday’s crash that killed a Houston grandmother.
Houston Clay Road crash: Suspect’s bond denied
What we know:
A Harris County judge ordered that Manuel Neri Mendoza, the man accused of killing a Houston grandmother in a suspected drunk-driving crash, be held without bond following his first court appearance Thursday morning.
Mendoza, a Mexican national currently under an ICE hold, is charged with murder in the death of 42-year-old Lakethia Montgomery.
What they’re saying:
Prosecutors discussed that while a 2019 DWI charge against Mendoza was dismissed, he has two prior DWI convictions from 2021 and 2023.
Investigators say Mendoza ran a red light at Clay Road and the Sam Houston Tollway early Tuesday morning, slamming his pickup truck into Montgomery’s sedan. Montgomery was on her way to pick up her son from work. Her 3-year-old grandson was in the back seat; he was restrained and survived the crash without injuries.
In court Thursday, a judge decided to move forward with the murder charge.
The other side:
Mendoza’s defense attorney, Jose Julio Vela, urged the public to “take a step back” until blood results and body camera footage are processed, noting that Mendoza is “innocent unless proven otherwise.”
What’s next:
Mendoza remains in the Harris County Jail. A hearing to determine his final bond status is scheduled for next Wednesday.
The Source: FOX 26’s Angie Rodriguez and Sherman Desselle gathered information from court.