- Joshua Wilkerson
A man charged in the murder of a Pearland teen told authorities he beat the victim to death and burned his body after the victim made sexual advances toward him.
Hermilio Moralez, 19, was charged Thursday with murder in the death of Joshua Wilkerson, 18.
Wilkerson’s body was found Wednesday night in an overgrown field in Fort Bend County after a 24-hour search.
ABC 13 in Houston reports:
Authorities now say that Joshua Wilkerson, 18, was beaten with a large wooden rod and that his body was burned. Hermilio Moralez, 19, is charged with murder in Wilkerson’s death. According to court documents, Wilkerson gave Moralez a ride home from school Tuesday and Moralez stated that Wilkerson began to make sexual advances towards him. Moralez said they got out of the truck and began to fight when Wilkerson grabbed a large wooden rod and tried to hit him. Moralez said he took the piece of wood from Wilkerson and began to hit him with it. He said Wilkerson was not moving afterwards.
UPDATE: CLICK HERE TO READ THE PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT
- Hermilio Moralez
For now, I choose to believe that it was not a “hate crime” but that a teenage boy got a ride from another teenage boy and the driver made an unwanted pass at the passenger. To a 19 year old “straight” male at the top of his sexual peak, an unsolicited pass from a homosexual male, could result in an over-the-top reaction especially if it involved touching! The early death of Joshua is a horrendous tragedy and my sympathy goes out to the parents and family. The tragedy and initial fight could be a complete over-reaction by Hermillo followed up by an even greater reaction with his attempted burning of the body. It is doubtful that the Hermillo “lured” Joshua into a situation for Hermillo to have killed him or it would have been better planned. The crime scene (at his father’s house) indicates the crime was not pre-meditated. It sounds more like manslaughter than a premeditated murder. My prayers are with both families and even Hermillo. I don’t think he woke up and said he would go kill Joshua and burn his body on Tuesday.
You are kidding right? He tortured this kid! He is smiling in his mug shot! Wake up
This is just so sad. Is that photo of Hermilo a mug shot? If so, I can’t believe that grin on his face like he just did a good deed. I bet he ends up as someone’s bitch, unless he ends up getting the death penalty. What a shame. My heart goes out to Joshua’s family and even to the family of this murderer.
“…after the victim made sexual advances toward him.” Uh huh. Can’t they come up with a better lie? That typical-obviously-a-lie-but-sounds-good-to-religious-idoiots-because-it-makes-them-say-‘well-he-shouldn’t-have-hit-on-him!’ answer…?
Long story short. Hermillo was attracted to Joshua and was so insecure about it, he killed another. NOW, THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, IS TYPICAL.
This immoral idea that some how an unsubstantiated claim that he “hit on me” even if true, is ever an excuse to kill someone much less even hit them, is disgusting. The fact that people like the first poster here, Ann Smith suggest it as an excuse shows the amount of hatred there is for gay people. Ann Smith I can hear you saying the same thing about lynching a black man “for hitting on a white girl, especially when it includes touching” 50 years ago. Maybe women should go around killing men who inappropriately grope them? No? But what if it really disgusts them? Isn’t that exactly what you are saying?
Ann Smith: “To a 19 year old “straight” male at the top of his sexual peak, an unsolicited pass from a homosexual male, could result in an over-the-top reaction especially if it involved touching! ”
This comment is insane. It is horrific. Whether an advance was made –including touching– does not justify anything. I am so angry by your attiude and comment I can hardly find words to express how frustratingly ignorant your comment is.
There is no justification. You also have bizarre idea about what manslaughter is or is not. I’m leaving now to find words.
To the comment made in regards to an unwanted/unsolicited pass….Does not in any Psychiatric Studies support temporary insanity. You need to check yurself….How many of our Nation’s Young women are violated on a daily basis. This, Is sick….Look at Domestic Violence in Marriages, should murder be acceptable?
Anne Smith is only saying what people are thinking…who aren’t thinking.
How do you know that Joshua wasn’t murdered because he rejected Hermillo’s advances?? Murdered young men cannot speak for their own defense. Cold blooded killers can spin it every which way they can.
Ann Smith….
How delusional are you? Suppose this was a straight female who made an unwanted advance at a gay male? Suppose this was a straight male who made an unwanted advance toward a straight female? Suppose this was a straight female who made an unwanted advance toward a straight male? Do any of of those people deserve to die? Is any of that excusable in your book?
An over reaction is beating the crap out of someone, not killing them. An appropriate and normal reaction is to say, “Hey, not cool. Not okay with that!” And then get the hell out of the truck and walk home.
This is a killer, no excuses permitted in a case of murder. Young people have to understand that there will be consequences for homophobia. I hope the juge will make him pay dearly for his crime. Isn’t it about time for somebody to set an exemple!!!… And Mrs Smith, you should be ashamed of your comment. Your kid is probably the bully of his school yard.
If I saw you shove my child out of the way at the carnival, it could result in an over-the-top reaction on my part, but I wouldn’t beat you to death. A woman having her tush grabbed by her boss could result in an over-the-top reaction, but it wouldn’t justify murder. If a man found his wife kissing another man, it could result in an over-the-top reaction, but to even mention that in the wake of an ensuing murder sounds like a ridiculous attempt to justify the crime.
What planet does Ann Smith live on?
The punk lied to the cops repeatedly to evade arrest so I don’t believe anything he says. Sexual advance is the standard excuse still acceptable in this society for defense attorneys to find a sympathetic jury for a murderer. Sadly, this pathetic animal needs to go too.
has anyone even confirmed that Joshua Wilkerson identified as gay/
His Facebook page does not reflect that at all.
Not that it matters if he is or not, but it amazes me that people will believe the word of a murderer
To Ann Smith: Clearly (and hopefully) you are not a parent. A parent could NEVER find any justification for the de-humanizing, brutal murder of any child. Whether anyone was at their “sexual peak”, straight, gay or otherwise will ever be a justification to respond to an unwanted advance with murder.
Hermilio may not have begun his day with the intent to slay another human, but Hermilio did CHOOSE to brutally murder Josh when the unwanted advance occurred. It was a choice. We are suppose to teach our children how to make good choices in life lest we suffer the consequences. Clearly Ann Smith is not a parent since she has never had to teach this lesson to a child or she would have known Hermilio had a choice and it was not manslaughter. Every action Hermilio committed was intentional a choice.
However, if we assume Ann Smith has children, we all should be VERY frightened as she will have taught her child that if someone makes an unwanted advance to them, it will be completely justifiable to respond with the most heinous, de-humanizing, brutal murder possible. Her children should have to wear a sign “Free to murder – My Mom says so!”
God help Hermilio and his family. Something went tragically wrong in him and his family. God help Ann Smith and all the “Ann Smith’s” of the world. She is tragically flawed. God is helping Josh and his family.
I will continue to pray for all involved.
Is there a memorial page setup on Facebook? Such a tragedy. May the killer get what is coming to him.
Next time some straight twit at a bar makes a pass at me and I feel like it’s SCAWWWYWYYYYY, i’ll make sure that I bludgeon them to death and try to burn them and then people will make apologies for me too, right?
After a reading of the affidavit, there appears to be, at first glance, grounds for criminal homicide, but not necessarily murder such grounds are not readily apparent. Yes, Mr. Morales did kill Mr. Wilkerson – however as the affidavit does not indicate, and we otherwise have no way of knowing – outside a criminal trial – what was in Mr. Morales’ mind at the time the act was committed: we can only say that a criminal homicide has occurred. Nothing in the affidavit addresses intent, the defendant’s state of mind, or concurrence.
With regard to Ann Smith’s comments – Provocation and Imperfect Self-Defense can reasonably be offered as defense to prosecution during the upcoming trial as well as Diminished Capacity (not applicable here at least from the affidavit). Additionally the alleged act could be presented as involuntary manslaughter.
“Adequate cause” and “sudden passion” may be introduced in the penalty phase of the trial to be considered in the assignment of punishment – for example if defending counsel establishes either of these two states due to a preponderance of evidence – it becomes second degree instead of first degree.
With regard to the alleged “hate-crime” nature of the act (alleged) there is nothing in the affidavit to indicate that a hate crime has occurred at least using the federal statute – which does not apply in any event. Using the Texas statute regarding Hate Crimes – it is a 50/50 chance.
This is a unbelievable shame , i have a younger sister and she says her best friend told her that her brother was best friends with josh and that this was over drugs, i can only hope and pray that justice comes for Josh Rip josh rip to the family be strong for josh , and adam your brother is watching over you now! make him proud
A “dummy” Facebook page was created in the hours between Joshua’s disappearance and the finding of Joshua’s body. Several Houston media outlets have reported this. My suspicion: the killer needed to do this to give himself and his story credibality. According to the killer, he was just getting a lift home, and Joshua came on to him, so he had to fight him off. OK, fine. If that was an accident, so be it. But why was there a FB account created in the 24 hours Joshua was missing that had all kinds of gay-based comments? The creator of the site went on and on about how he was a gay kid. I saw both pages last night before they were removed from FB. The one that several kids I know from the neighborhood were friends with belongs to a kid that seemed completely out of the ordinary. A few pictures of himself, some banter with friends, and an interest in women. The other page, that had VERY few posts and responses, was full of homosexual themes. Why does this matter? It’s just too fishy that a kid would make a FB page that details his gay feelings on the day he went missing. I’m not a detective, but I am a teacher and I know a kid spewing BS when I see it. This killer is full of a huge load of garbage and went to extreme measures to hide how deeply he was involved. While he may not have intended to kill Joshua, he went to great lengths to cover it up. He knew he had done wrong. Moralez even gave false information about the whereabouts of Joshua’s body. He had searchers combing the area at FM 518 and Texas 35 for 12 hours until he finally admitted the body was at FM 521 and FM 518, over 10 miles away across town. I saw these volunteers. There were at least 25 horse trailers with volunteers from Texas Equusearch. Over 20 pairs of 4 wheeling volunteers were searching the waterways and fields. The area that was searched is greatly different from where Joshua was found. FM 517 and 528 is industrial, near a landfill, and flat as a board. The area at Texas 35 and 518 has a HUGE railroad overpass, is located between 2 schools and 4 neighborhoods, and is not industrial. This kid sent hundreds of volunteers on a wild goose chase, and he had to have known what he was doing. No one makes a mistake like that. Moralez was hiding his involvement at every twist and turn. This is why I do not believe he was merely “fending off an unwanted sexual advance.”
I went to school with both boys, im going to college and i knew josh. He wasn’t gay! Him and a GIRL from pearland liked one another, so Milo(we called him that in high school) lied!
The man committed aggravated homicide and needs to put away for life. What more do you need?
Why does every crime have to be scrutinized for sexual motivations and orientation?
Geena, in case the local authorities decide a gay man hitting on a straight man doesn’t need much investigation. Being a hate crime would elevate it above the heads of bigotted bo-diddly local sherriff to a more educated state or federal court and investigation unit.
You’re ignorant of all of American history if you think minorities don’t need extra protection within the law to ensure they even get a moderately fair shake.
Unfortunately, Joshua can never speak for himself as to what happened and we only have the story of a lying murderer at this point. Hopefully, a proper investigation can get at least close to the truth. At this point all we really know is what we read in the Probable Cause Affidavit, which only raises more questions to me. As pointed out previously, we don’t even know if Joshua was gay or if Milo was gay. We really just don’t know anything except one kid killed another and claimed it was over an unwanted sexual advance. I’m sure John Wright will continue to follow up on this story and keep us informed as it progresses. In the meantime, I’ll continue to pray for all involved, including the investigators. God Bless.
By the way, his facebook page IS still up and there is nothing there to indicate Josh was gay and I lean towards thinking he was not. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001118636123&v=wall
Yes that is Hermilos mugshot.
Josh was a friend of my cousins they went to school together…Everyone that knows Josh is saying there is NO WAY that he made a sexual advance on Hermilo…if anything it was the other way around.
Well I’m glad if it had to happen that it happened in Texas, lets see how much the little punk likes the big boys in the state penetintiary!!! HA HA Moralez!! You gonna LOVE it there!!! ~ R I P Josh ~
Well I’m glad if it had to happen that it happened in Texas, lets see how much the little punk likes the big boys in the state penetintiary!!! HA HA Moralez!! You gonna LOVE it there!!! ~ R I P Josh ~
I love how everyone looks down on Milo like a monster. He is a human and humans are capable of of killing. Its one one our animalistic traits. We may be smarter than the average animal and we have reason but we are still animals and are capabale of killing. Now am I saying Milo is innocent? No, but don’t look down ona human who lost control of himself.
oh and prayers go out to Josh’s family. I went to high school with both men. They were both cool when I knew them.
You want “Respect” for this subhuman creep? Yea, SUBHUMAN, your right, we are animals with ONE BIG difference, “humans” have a conscience to answer to. Apparently, he didnt have that. If he gets out he’ll do it again. As such, I hope they give him the needle.
The irony comes when Moralez becomes someone’s wife in prison.
You know the bottom line is a young man is dead because he had different beliefs and this jerk Hermilio thinks he can take someones life for having these different beliefs. I hope the man and I use that term loosely burns in hell. No matter what alleged advances Joshua made, nothing warrants the horrible death this child experienced. God Bless his family and may God hold you close and help you through this devastating time in your life….
i hope he has the same smirk on his face once they share his ass around the floor in prison.stupud jerk
actually Moralez is human, I knew both Moralez and Josh fromPearland High and both were your average male teens. Moralez was actually pretty cool, the only problem with him was that he had a bad temper. And it looks like that bad temper got the best of Moralez and he ended up killing one of his good friends. It’s sad this had to happen to Josh, and I hope Milo can see the error of his ways.
We have not heard the full story and I don’t believe Hermilio Moralez’ version of events at all. I speculate that the closet rod was used to sexually assault the deceased and that he was burned to try to destroy DNA evidence.
to the person who said we are all humans who are capable of killing..
yeah he is human…and we are capable of that and we also know from the time we are old enough to know better if you kill or harm someone that there is consequences and KARMA and Milo WILL get what he deserves!! period.
we may be capable of killing but we are also capable of knowing better and it does not matter what Josh said or allegedly did to him…he coulda just been like whatever dude and walked into his house and left it alone..he did not have to beat him to death literally then tie his hands and feet and then as if thats not enough dump him in a field and burn him…
seriously?
Most of you people are absolutely TERRIBLY mistaken. One of my good friends was joshuas best friend for over a decade.. And i have hung out with josh many of times. From knowing him personally, and from my close friend telling me he was in no way homosexual. Hermillio was more then likely the one to make the first move. And josh turned him down, resulting in his actions the way they are so josh wouldnt say anything to anyone about his homosexual attempts. Keep the facts right.
God Bless both families in this matter. This is a tragedy. Sexual accusations are not a reason for murdering someone in COLD BLOOD not to mention. Whether he had intent or not, that boy was CRAZY. I know several of the young men who knew him and that Milo or whatever u wanna call him, was a DRUG DEALER. And, was messing with Crack Cocaine. And, more than likely he was on it when it happened. He was pushing that drug in the school from what I understand, and alot of the kids were doing it. That stuff with MAKE YOU CRAZY. I just pray to God that in the future, when this is all said and done, that Milo’s lawyer doesn’t try that BS temporary insanity plea. Then Milo goes to a Mental Institution for awhile, and generally they walk away scott free. Now, WOW what justice that would be. And, what an uprising there will be over this, it will only get worse as time goes by. I’m so so sorry for all involved. This is pathetic and should have never happened.
New information is that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has put a hold on Hermilo Moralez. Appears he is a citizen of Belize and may be in the country illegally.
Chris, that is what i was thinking…that maybe Milo made an advance at Josh..but no one knows. :/ and unless they hook him up to a lie detector or his conscience eats at him we will probably never know.
@Ashley – Hooking him up to a lie detector will prove nothing. A polygraph has only a 61% chance of being accurate and is not admissible in a court of law. They possess little credibility.
I live in pearland and sadly up the road from this horrible child. The picture of him is a school picture. But in his real mugshot he is indeed smiling. https://records.brazoria-county.com/Scripts/UVlink.isa/brazoria_tsg/WEBSERV/JailSearch?action%253Dview%26track%253D243785244
Every county has the sheriff section where you can type in someones name and find anything they have been arrested for in that county. Gotta love the internet
What has become of the faithful that they throw away the ten commandment laws of God? It is clearly stated “THOU SHALL NOT KILL!” Finish! What is God’s most important law? Jesus said it was to love God above all else. He then went on to say the second most important law was to love others the same. Nowhere does it state in the bible to kill anyone who os different, rather it states, unequivocally that “THOU SHALL NOT KILL!” So a homosexual makes an advance, big deal. WALK AWAY! God gave us ALL free will. The person making the advance exercised his free will, show your faith and obedience to God by exercising yours by saying no thank you, that you walk a different path in God’s light and then exercise you free will to NOT kill or cause harm but to simply walk away. Speak with your pastor, pray to God for the other person, but DO NOT KILL. We are each made in God’s image, even the homosexual. Pray for them, deny their advance if that is your nature, BUT WHY JEOPARDIZE YOUR OWN IMMORTAL SOUL by breaking on of God”s ten commandments by taking the life of another of God’s children. Jesus taught of God’s love and tolerance, His message was not this message of hatred and murder. Do not hate, do not kill. Love and faith will serve you better in the eyes of God. Bear that all in mind and think not only with your mind and ego, but with your heart and more importantly with your soul. I pray for these two young men who have been taught God’s message to us incorrectly. I pray for all of the other people of God on this earth exercising their free will in such a cavalier and dangerous method. God tests our faith and belief daily. He tests our understanding of and obedience to His laws. Remember this always and exercise your free will responsibly and with God’s love and your faith in mind. God is life, and love and light. All else is darkness and leads you away from God’s desires for us thus putting our immortal souls in danger. Please, for the love of God who loves you, walk the path of light and do not get sucked into the immorality of the darkness that fights against God for possession of your soul. These acts are not the acts of a man of faith, a man of faith would walk away and pray for that other person. I beg you, for yourself, do not take the path of hate and darkness. Embrace God’s love and extend it outward to ALL you encounter. In the meantime I will continue to pray for sanity and faith in God’s grace and good will. May God smile down upon you all and shower you with His grace and abundant love. Peace to you all. Father Mac
They had known each other for over 5 years. This was not the first time this young man had given Hermilio Moralez a ride home. They went to school together and were aquaintances. This was not an accident but intentional act, in every way shape and form. The behavior before during and after is crime is not “oh well, dont think he should have burned the body” evidence to the crime. I cant say if its a hate crime, manslaughter or first degree murder. Either way this kid lost his life, Hermilio Moralez burned the body and was arrested for murder smiling into the camera. Everyone who commented please follow up and look at the physical evidence follow the trial, or if he is lucky plea bargain. If a gay man came onto me i wouldnt kill him its not a crime. If a gay man tried to rape me and i had to use force to protect myself, i would try to get away.I wouldnt continue to beat him to death and then burn the body if i “accidentally killed him”. The info about the webpage that was created by this moron is true. It is also a fact that he was found at crime scene at later time watching the cops and was detained by police. I grew up fighting in public schools at the nations capital, “Murder Capital”, kicking and getting kicked. If you hurt someone fighting maybe hurt them bad, you stop. If you are in life death situations ie being robbed, raped, beaten you flee at any given chance. This is human nature, if you do what this kid did you are a sociopath. Now add the location, time of day, persons involved(classmates) and fact that he was driving him home. Well on the upside he will go to prison, maybe get death penalty. He will be able to describe the difference between a pass and rape before he gets out.
Ann Smith please send me your pharmacy info so i can get crazy pills refilled before you post any more responses. You are truely a cement head. Then again did you realy wake up this morning and say,”Im gonna post some cement head comments about a brutal murder”? We really cant hold you responsible, right??
So if you are straight and gay person tries to hit you, you can kill the gay person. Do I then understand it correct according some comments that as I’m gay and if a girl comes to hit me I’m aloud to kill the girl. Is this right?
I bet that guy didn’t make sexual advances on nobody, this may be an attempt to shift the blame to the victim. What if he just told him he was gay and nothing else? It’s this guy’s word against a dead guy. Plus, redneck macho morons… getting hit on or flirted with …does not hurt anyone. At the worst it is a momentary embarrassment. Just say “Sorry, dude, I don’t swing that way!”
If I had a dollar for all of the times I been hit on by gay and bi girls (including a few drunk friends, which I knew to get their car keys away from them that minute if they were so drunk they were trying to go kissing on everyone, they were that drunk! *lol*). ;D So to all of the morons on the planet, the polite response is “I’m very flattered in your interest, but I’m not gay at all.”
This accused 19; he can be tried as an adult in a state that is top three in the USA for enforcing the death penalty. If found guilty, he has destroyed his life before he could live it. And please, people, no apologists for the wiley hormones of male youth! That is sexist nonsense.
I made a video response to this. Check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmTwRYiBGSo
I agree with “Chris”. I think Moralez made the pass at Josh & got scared to death Josh would out him making him lose all his “big bad drug dealer” status. I think wuwu is on the money about the rod too. Moralez is definitely a sociopath & you can take it to the bank that if they let he go he’s going to kill again. THIS TYPE OF PIECE OF CRAP IS EXACTLY WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY IN THIS COUNTRY!!! Needle please.
All this is total disgusted ! Gay or not gay!!! it does not justifies a person to take another person live away! All this guy could have done was get out of the car , all he needed to say sorry I dont swing like that pls let just forget this be friends or what ever!! but theirs so many (man) that is insure with them self! that cant just walk away! This is murdered and your going to pay for it! This was some ones love one ! this was some one’s brother, son friend! your going to pay for this! if its not in this world and or were every your going! I hope its in this world!!!
I cannot believe ANYBODY here at all aware of the law, both Texas and federal law, could believe that anybody who murders a victim and burns the body and then LATER confesses to this after being confronted with the crime is facing anything short of the death penalty. I mean there were no other witnesses except to identify Moralez being the last one seen with the victim, getting a ride home.
Again, for you psychopaths out there. This is an ATROCITY, not a tragedy. Someone was viscously and brutally murdered and had their body burned afterwards by the same sicko.
And finally, not that confessing to a HATE crime makes your odds of avoiding the death penalty any better, but I can absolutely assure any women out there, that no teenage male, heterosexual or otherwise, would react with this kind of retaliatory violence without socialization similar to what would motivate the Ku Klux Klan to hang a black man they thought took a glance at one of their women in the 50’s. This has nothing to do with anything other than hate by some of the most worthless human trash in existence.
That’s ASSUMING the MURDERERS explanation without having the testimony of the only other witness, the brutally murdered and burned victim, is even worth repeating. I mean if I was his defense attorney, I think I want to come up with something a little less incriminating — if he’s looking for sympathy, even in Texas. But then there is the U.S. Attorney’s General office, if the initial charge doesn’t also include and convict before appeal on hate crime. Death Penalty without a doubt, if equal protection and due process wins out — not that it will for atrocities like murder without conscience committed in the U.S.
This piece of garbage should get the death penalty. Well, maybe he’ll just get life and get raped all day in prison and that’d serve him better justice.
Ann Smith..you are IGNORANT!!
milo deserves to be sentanced to life in prision for this.
if someone hatred so much, of the killing in this way has no right to life!!!!
Every person is created in the likeness of his Creator and so if someone denies the whole of sexuality and its diversity is sick and shows that God is an idiot and it is not perfect…
I’m very sorry and sad but I do not have a heart of forgiveness to the murderer
Does Texas believe in “death by slow burning?”
Only God can judge. It can happen to anyone. We will have chn. and we never know what can happen.
Why is murdered victim referred to as a “teen”, but the piece of trash that murdered him referred to as a man? There us only one year’s difference in their ages, and technically, both are still teens. It makes no difference in the charges; Moralez is of legal age in the State of Texas.
Are you serious?! I got people advance to me very often when I was in high school and college. Many of them I am not interested in at all. Should I beat them up? No rational thinking can justify this horrible and the despicable crime, period