Houston teen jailed as suspect in alleged satanic murder

On January 19, Edward O’Neal IV, 18, was arrested and charged with murder in the 337th State District Court for his alleged role in the murder of Ryan Roberts, 16, of Houston. On January 19, Edward O’Neal IV, 18, was arrested and charged with murder in the 337th State District Court for his alleged role in the murder of Ryan Roberts, 16, of Houston. Photo: Courtesy Houston Police Dept. Photo: Courtesy Houston Police Dept. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Houston teen jailed as suspect in alleged satanic murder 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A Houston teen was recently arrested in connection with the homicide of a 16-year-old boy who was found stabbed to death last January.

Edward O’Neal IV, 18, was arrested after he reportedly confessed to Houston Police Tuesday (Feb. 9) to stabbing his friend, Ryan Roberts.

Robert’s body was discovered Jan. 19 in a wooded area near the Hwy 610 overpass off Holmes Road, roughly eight miles east of Pasadena.

The boy’s mother, Christina Roberts, told police she last heard from her son after he texted her saying he would be home late from school because of a substitute bus driver Friday (Jan. 15). Roberts was a freshman at Jefferson Davis High School. When he didn’t come home, a missing person report was filed and four days later the boy’s body was discovered by Texas Equusearch volunteers in a field behind the apartment complex where he lived with his family.

According to reports from Channel 13, the boy’s mother said a neighbor came forward with information that led police to the suspected killer.

"He confessed to his cousin, in detail," Roberts told Channel 13 reporters.

Previously, she told Channel 13 reporters that the alleged murder was part of a satanic ritual.

O’Neal is currently being held at the Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on March 23.