Capital murder charge upheld
A Russellville man will continue to remain in custody after a recent grand jury indicted him for capital murder.
Andres Pascual Francisco, 26, 306 South Carroll Avenue, was indicted for capital murder by the November grand jury after jury members heard facts surrounding an incident that took place on July 15 of this year.
According to authorities, officers with the Russellville Police Department responded to a 911 call at 208 South Carroll Avenue in Russellville where there was a reported stabbing.
According to witness statements, the stabbing took place in a vehicle that was found about one block from the victim’s residence where he went for help following the incident.
Witnesses also said that the victim, 20-year-old Francisco Valasquez, had identified Francisco as his attacker when he entered his residence and collapsed.
When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered a bloody knife in the vehicle near the passenger’s seat, a large amount of blood on the passenger’s side door and blood spattered throughout the vehicle.
A trail of blood led to the residence where Valasquez was seated on the couch with puncture wounds and lacerations on his chest, neck and face.
The victim was transported to Russellville Hospital where he was treated and later airlifted to Huntsville Hospital.
Officers were unable to locate Francisco the night the incident took place but he was located in Decatur and taken into custody the following day after authorities received information about his whereabouts.
Francisco was originally to be charged with attempted murder but while he was being booked at the RPD, investigators received information that Valasquez had died at Huntsville Hospital from wounds sustained during the altercation.
“According to Alabama law, if a murder is committed inside of a vehicle, that is grounds for the defendant to be charged with capital murder,” Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said.
“The next step in this case is for the defendant to be set for arraignment in January and after talking to defense counsel, I also expect that the defendant will be scheduled for a mental evaluation before the case continues.”
Because of the severity of the crime and an additional Community Corrections violation, Francisco is being held without bond at the Franklin County Jail where he will remain until his trial.
