Murdered 8 Days Before Her Wedding Day | Laura Grillo

The 911 caller, Laura's brother Brian, was highly agitated and gave confusing information, initially stating his 'grandmother' was on the floor and claiming he didn't know his own phone number. This led first responders to expect an elderly medical emergency, not a murder scene.

Caller was a man, clearly upset, said his grandmother was on the floor not moving. He said he didn't know his phone number but gave his address. First responders expected an elderly woman who had fallen or collapsed.

Upon arrival, first responders found a young woman, Laura Grillo, dead from a single gunshot wound. The master bedroom was ransacked, and a small safe containing $8,000-$9,000 in honeymoon savings was open and empty. Crucially, there were no signs of forced entry anywhere in the house, suggesting the killer had access or knowledge of security codes.

Young woman face down, lying in a pool of blood with one gunshot wound above her eye. Jewelry boxes scattered, small safe opened. Safe was supposed to have $8,000-$9,000 in cash, which was missing. No signs of forced entry.

Laura's brother, Brian, who lived in the house, was initially a suspect due to his confusing 911 call. However, it was determined that his behavior stemmed from being on the autism spectrum, being scared and overwhelmed, and having significant hearing loss, which explained why he slept through the gunshot and misidentified Laura (who was face down) as John's mother.

Brian was on the autism spectrum, scared, overwhelmed, and confused. He was deaf in one ear and had significant hearing loss in the other, making it plausible he slept through the shooting. Laura was face down, making identification difficult, and John's mother was in town for the wedding.

Laura's fiancé, John, had a seemingly solid alibi. On the morning of the murder, he was with his mother and two employees running errands in Dallas, approximately 30 minutes from their home. This was corroborated by phone records and surveillance footage from multiple stores.

John's mom was in town and accompanied him. Phone records showed him in Dallas at 8:39 a.m. Security camera footage confirmed him, his mom, and two employees (Jesus Trevino, James Vala) at Home Depot at 9:50 a.m. and another Home Depot later.

Laura was known for her consistent daily routine. Police determined she left home before 8:00 a.m. to drop off her youngest daughter and was killed between 8:10 a.m. and 8:22 a.m. after returning home.

Laura left before 8:00 a.m. to drop off daughter. John called her at 8:49 a.m. and she didn't answer. Investigators believed she returned around 8:10 a.m. and was killed between then and 8:22 a.m.

Laura's best friend, Heather, informed police that John was extremely possessive, jealous, and insecure, constantly accusing Laura of flirting. Laura was miserable and had attempted to leave him multiple times. John even forced Laura to take a DNA test for their daughter.

Heather stated John was possessive, jealous, insecure, and accused Laura of flirting. Laura was miserable and tried to leave him multiple times. John made Laura do a DNA test for their daughter.

After Laura's death, John exhibited several red flags: he was unusually persistent about gaining access to the crime scene, reused wedding plans for Laura's funeral (which Heather found 'cheap, calculated'), and quickly sold Laura's belongings. An email from Laura to John months prior revealed her unhappiness and desire to end their relationship.

John was 'weirdly persistent' about getting back into the house. He 'leaned heavily into reusing a lot of the wedding plans for the funeral'. He 'wasted no time in selling Laura's stuff'. An email from Laura in June 2015 stated she was 'extremely unhappy' and thought they 'should end their relationship'.

Investigators shifted focus to John's employees, Jesus Trevino and James Vala, who were with John on the morning of the murder. Both men had significant criminal histories, including convictions for sexual offenses, suggesting a willingness to commit harm.

John's co-workers, Jesus Trevino and James Vala, were friends and employees. Both had criminal histories and were convicted sex offenders. Jesus was also in the country illegally after deportation.

Cell phone data for Jesus Trevino showed he received a one-minute call from John at 7:45 a.m. on the day of the murder. Immediately after, Jesus traveled to Laura's suburb and was in the vicinity of her home between 8:15 a.m. and 8:20 a.m., precisely when Laura was killed.

Jesus received a one-minute call from John at 7:45 a.m. Jesus's phone data placed him in Laura's suburb, near her home, between 8:15 a.m. and 8:20 a.m.

Jesus's ex-girlfriend, Lena Rodriguez, had informed authorities *before* the murder that Jesus claimed his boss hired him to kill his 'wife' for $15,000. However, the information was too vague (no names, 'girlfriend' not 'wife') and was not acted upon. Another friend, Ramon Feno, also heard Jesus brag about the $15,000 payment for killing Laura.

Lena Rodriguez claimed Jesus told her his boss hired him to kill his wife for $15,000. Lena went to authorities but the tip was vague and not acted on. Ramon Feno also stated Jesus told him about accepting $15,000 to kill Laura.

James Vala, arrested for failing to register as a sex offender, confessed to being the getaway driver in Laura's murder. He revealed John's meticulous planning, including providing house and safe codes, and using the one-minute phone call to Jesus as a signal that Laura was home alone. James received $1,000 for his participation.

James admitted to being an accomplice and Jesus's getaway driver. He stated John planned the murder, provided security and safe codes, and used a one-minute phone call as a signal. James received $1,000 for his role.

After the murder, James and Jesus disposed of evidence by stripping off their clothes and throwing them from the car, and tossing the murder weapon into a random dumpster in Dallas. All three men—John, Jesus, and James—were eventually arrested, charged with capital murder, and convicted. John and Jesus received life sentences without parole, and James received 25 years.

James and Jesus stripped off clothing and threw them out the car window, and tossed the murder weapon in a random dumpster. John was arrested in June 2016, found guilty in September 2018, and sentenced to life without parole. Jesus was found guilty in 2019 and sentenced to life without parole. James accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 25 years.

The host speculates that John's motive for killing Laura, despite her wanting to leave him, might have been to retain custody of their youngest daughter. The irony is that John ended up in jail and lost all parental rights.

Laura wanted to leave John, but he convinced her to stay and marry him. The host questions if John feared Laura would take their daughter if she left, believing murder was the only way to keep the child. John fought Heather for custody of their daughter from jail, but lost.