‘I knew I killed him’: Man brutally beats victim to death with baseball bat, gets caught by surveillance footage from house where he was sleeping, police say

A Texas man is facing a murder charge after police say surveillance footage, witness statements, and his own alleged admissions connected him to the brutal baseball-bat killing of another man inside an abandoned home.

According to authorities, 51-year-old Victor Sigala was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of 39-year-old Eric Perez. The case unfolded after police responded to a disturbing scene at an abandoned residence on Prairie Hill Street in San Antonio, where Perez was discovered with catastrophic head injuries.

Investigators say the evidence eventually revealed that Perez had been beaten to death with a baseball bat and that Sigala later admitted to multiple people that he knew he had killed the victim.

Police Discover Victim Inside Abandoned Home

Officers Respond to Disturbing Scene

The investigation began on May 8 when officers with the San Antonio Police Department responded to an abandoned home in the 8900 block of Prairie Hill Street near Palo Alto Park.

When authorities arrived, they found a large pool of blood and Eric Perez suffering from severe injuries to his head. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, but Perez was pronounced dead.

Initially, investigators believed the victim may have been shot because of the severity of the injuries. However, a later examination by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Perez had not been killed by gunfire.

Medical Examiner Reveals True Cause of Death

Following an autopsy, the Medical Examiner concluded that Perez died from blunt-force trauma to the head.

The death was officially ruled a homicide.

The findings shifted the direction of the investigation and prompted detectives to search for evidence indicating who may have attacked Perez and what weapon had been used during the deadly assault.

Neighbor’s Statement Leads Investigators Toward Key Evidence

Earlier Altercation Comes to Light

While processing the crime scene, investigators spoke with residents living near the abandoned property.

One neighbor who lived across the street told police that he had been involved in a fight with Perez earlier that same day. Officers observed fresh facial injuries on the neighbor that appeared consistent with his account of a physical confrontation.

The information prompted detectives to seek search warrants for the neighbor’s residence and for surveillance footage from cameras positioned near the abandoned home.

Police Find Suspect Sleeping Inside Neighbor’s House

When officers executed the search warrant at the neighbor’s residence, they made a significant discovery.

Victor Sigala was found asleep inside the home.

According to the arrest affidavit, Sigala provided a statement to investigators after being located, though authorities have not publicly disclosed the contents of that statement.

The discovery placed Sigala close to the investigation and intensified police efforts to determine his role in Perez’s death.

Surveillance Footage Captures Moments Before and After Killing

Cameras Show Armed Men Entering Property

One of the most critical pieces of evidence came from surveillance cameras positioned near the abandoned house.

According to investigators, video footage showed Sigala and two unidentified men approaching and entering the residence while wearing masks.

Police say Sigala was carrying a baseball bat, while another individual was armed with a metal rod.

The footage allegedly captured the trio entering the building shortly before the fatal attack occurred.

Suspect Leaves Holding Baseball Bat

Investigators said the surveillance video also recorded the men exiting the property after the assault.

When Sigala emerged from the residence, he was still carrying the baseball bat he had brought inside.

Authorities further stated that he removed his mask after leaving the house, allowing detectives to clearly identify him from the footage.

The surveillance evidence became a major component of the case and helped establish Sigala’s presence at the scene during the time of the homicide.

Alleged Confessions Become Key Evidence

Friend Says Suspect Admitted Victim Was Not Moving

As investigators continued gathering evidence, they interviewed people who knew Sigala.

According to the arrest affidavit, two of Sigala’s friends told police that he admitted his involvement in the deadly attack.

One friend reported that Sigala said:

“I hit him with a bat. He wasn’t moving.”

The statement suggested that Sigala was aware of the devastating injuries inflicted on Perez during the assault.

‘I Knew I Killed Him’

Another acquaintance provided an even more damaging account.

According to police documents, Sigala allegedly admitted:

“I hit him first. I knew I killed him.”

Investigators believe these statements directly connected Sigala to the fatal beating and demonstrated awareness of the deadly consequences of the attack.

The alleged confessions became a crucial part of the evidence supporting the murder charge.

Murder Charge Filed Against Suspect

Arrest and Jail Booking

After reviewing the surveillance footage, witness statements, forensic findings, and alleged admissions, authorities moved forward with criminal charges.

Sigala was arrested and booked into the Bexar County Jail on a murder charge.

Court records indicate that his bond was set at $250,000.

If convicted of murder, Sigala could face a sentence that includes life imprisonment under Texas law.

Investigation Into Other Participants Continues

Although Sigala has been arrested, investigators have indicated that two additional men seen in the surveillance footage remain unidentified.

Authorities have not announced any arrests related to those individuals, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Detectives continue working to determine the exact roles played by everyone involved in the deadly attack.

Defendant’s Criminal History

Prior Arrests and Convictions

Court records reviewed after Sigala’s arrest show that he has had numerous encounters with the criminal justice system dating back decades.

According to those records, Sigala has been jailed multiple times since the mid-1990s.

His criminal history reportedly includes arrests and convictions involving theft, burglary, and drug-related offenses.

While those prior cases are separate from the current murder charge, they form part of the defendant’s background as the prosecution moves forward.

Case Moves Through Texas Court System

Prosecutors Prepare Murder Case

The murder case against Victor Sigala is expected to proceed through the Texas court system in the coming months.

Prosecutors are likely to rely heavily on surveillance footage, forensic evidence establishing blunt-force trauma as the cause of death, witness testimony, and the alleged confessions made to friends following the attack.

Defense attorneys will have the opportunity to challenge the evidence as the case advances toward future court hearings.

Family Awaits Justice

The death of Eric Perez has left another family grieving while investigators continue seeking answers about everyone involved in the violent attack.

What began as the discovery of a severely injured man inside an abandoned home evolved into a homicide investigation involving surveillance footage, alleged admissions of guilt, and a baseball bat prosecutors say was used as a deadly weapon.

As legal proceedings continue, authorities maintain that the evidence points to Sigala as the man responsible for the fatal beating that ended Perez’s life.