'Horrific' murder stuns teen's family

Jose E. Reyes and a 16-year-old have been arrested in the death of Corriann Cervantes. Officer say the boys killed the girl in an effort to make a deal with the devil. Jose E. Reyes and a 16-year-old have been arrested in the death of Corriann Cervantes. Officer say the boys killed the girl in an effort to make a deal with the devil. Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close 'Horrific' murder stuns teen's family 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

HOUSTON - Two teens, accused of kidnapping and killing a 15-year-old girl earlier this month, were trying to make a deal with the devil, prosecutors said Tuesday.

It was one of several revelations about the teen's death that shocked the victim's family who heard details of the grisly slaying from news reports.

"It's horrific what happened to my niece," the victim's aunt Catera Cervantes said Tuesday. "I didn't even know the full details of it until I saw it on the news, and we're all trying to cope with it the best way we can."

Her niece, Corriann Cervantes, was found about 4:10 a.m. Feb. 8 in a vacant apartment in a Clear Lake complex in the 16400 block of El Camino Real, between El Dorado Boulevard and Bay Area Boulevard.

Jose E. Reyes, 17, was arrested Sunday in the NASA-area slaying and a 16-year-old boy was arrested on Monday.

Before the killing, Reyes had said he had sold his soul to the devil, and the juvenile asked if he could do it too, Assistant Harris County District Attorney John Jordan said.

"They discussed the fact that Mr. Reyes had sold his soul to the devil," Jordan said. "And if they ended up killing this teenager, it would also allow the 16-year-old to also sell his soul to the devil."

Jordan said the girl was stabbed, beaten and sexually assaulted.

"There were puncture wounds to her face, which is consistent to a screwdriver," Jordan said. He said the victim was found with an upside down crucifix carved into her stomach.

Both teens were charged with capital murder in the Feb. 5 death of the girl. Cervantes' partially clothed body was found in a vacant apartment after a resident saw a door ajar.

"During the course of events, this teenager screamed, 'Why are you doing this to me?' and attempted to run from the apartment," Jordan said. "They stopped her and this became a kidnapping and eventually she was killed."

Reyes is in the Harris County jail with no bail. The 16-year-old, who has not been identified because of his age, is behind bars in the Harris County Juvenile courthouse.

In a brief juvenile court hearing, associate Judge Kelly Graul heard the allegations of strangling, beating and stabbing before ruling there was enough evidence to hold the teen.