Martin Isaac Tellez was arrested on December 10, 2019 and charged in the February 15, 2002 murder of 58-year-old Subir Chatterjee in Oak Ridge, Texas.
Chatterjee was a partial owner and employee at the Coastal Gas Station where he was robbed and murdered. About $160,000 in cash that Chatterjee had on site as part of his cheque-cashing business was stolen in the robbery. He was shot in the head and neck at close range. A male had been seen with him inside his glass enclosure, leading police to think that Chatterjee knew his killer. He had been shot twice in the head and neck at close range.
A DNA profile was created from blood found at the crime scene. The FGG investigation was conducted by Parabon Nanolabs. The initial confirmation was made by police surveillance followed by the surreptitious sampling of Tellez’ DNA from a coffee cup, a fork, and a piece of toast.
Tellez was released on a $500,000 in March of 2020. In about April of 2021, he removed his GPS monitor and fled to Mexico. He surrendered to U.S. Marshalls and Texas Rangers in Brownsville Texas on April 18, 2021.
On June 28, 2022, Tellez pled guilty to the murder of Chatterjee and was sentenced to 60 years in prison by the Montgomery County District Court. He will be eligible for parole after 30 years of his sentence is served.
Sources:
Dominguez, Catherine. “Tomball Man Indicted on Capital Murder for 2002 Cold Case.” Courier of Montgomery County, February 19, 2020. Accessed December 27, 2020. https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Tomball-man-indicted-on-capital-murder-for-2002-15065642.php.
Dominguez, Catherine. “DNA, Social Media Lead to Arrest in 2002 Murder of Oak Ridge North Gas Station Owner.” Chron, December 11, 2019. Accessed December 27, 2020. https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/DNA-social-media-lead-to-arrest-in-2002-murder-14899701.php.
Engle, Scott. “After 17-Years of Hard Work Oak Ridge North Police Finally Arrest Killer.” Montgomery County Police Reporter, December 11, 2019. Accessed December 27, 2020. https://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/after-17-years-of-hard-work-oak-ridge-north-police-finally-arrest-killer/?fbclid=IwAR08XRMR2P1qtgF7BDCFvD_YGbgro9C9S7Gj–rlMpC4ofQkZyrtTdM3YTE.
Gonzalez, Jose R. “DNA Testing Leads to 20-Year-Old Cold Case Murder Conviction in Montgomery County.” The Courier, June 29, 2022. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/DNA-testing-leads-to-20-year-old-cold-case-murder-17274640.php.
Lopardi, Michael. “Man Who Fled to Mexico Arrested in Connection to 2002 Murder.” Click 2 Houston, April 22, 2021. Last modified April 23, 2021. Accessed December 18, 2021. https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/04/23/man-who-fleed-to-mexico-arrested-in-connection-to-2002-murder/.