Anthony Cerda, 34, allegedly broke into the home of 90-year-old Francisco Chura by removing an air-conditioning unit from a window and stabbed him repeatedly with a screwdriver while he slept, according to Houston police.
Background
Chura owned a convenience store in the 7800 block of Canal Street in Houston for decades. His residence was attached to the business. Police responded to Cerda's home in that same block around 9 a.m. on Aug. 20, 2025, after receiving reports of a stabbing. Paramedics rushed Chura to the hospital where he died on Sept. 7, 2025.
A probable cause arrest affidavit states that Cerda attacked Chura at his home, jumping on top of him while he slept and punching him repeatedly before stabbing him with the screwdriver. The victim suffered several small circular stabbing wounds to his stomach area. Investigators found Chura's bed sheets soaked with blood.
The victim's daughter told investigators she spoke with her father on Aug. 19, 2025, one day before the attack. He mentioned giving money to someone who had been coming into his store and then returning demanding more cash. When he refused additional funds, he kicked the person out, according to the affidavit.
The Investigation
Detectives noted a safe in Chura's home was left wide open with nothing inside, suggesting robbery as the likely motive. Approximately $3,000 in cash was missing, police said. Investigators also recovered a bent screwdriver with blood on it from the scene.
Chura told detectives he played dead until his attacker fled. He then hid in the bathroom until daylight and ran to a neighbor's house for help. The victim described his assailant as having long hair.
About two months after the stabbing, investigators observed a man with long hair hiding in a crawl space at a home near the crime scene. Police said he appeared to be trying to evade detection. The homeowner identified him as her nephew, Cerda, who occasionally stayed at her residence. She noted that Cerda frequently visited Chura's store and that the victim sometimes loaned him money.
A witness told police he went to the store on Aug. 19, the night before the attack. Chura let him inside and recounted giving money to a man who returned a second time demanding more cash. When Chura refused, he kicked the individual out, according to detectives.
In January 2026, investigators interviewed a man who had been getting high with Cerda after the alleged murder. During that conversation, Cerda allegedly stated, 'I killed Pancho,' which was Chura's nickname.
The breakthrough in the case came when DNA results returned earlier this month. A forensic laboratory determined the screwdriver contained DNA from two individuals: Chura and Cerda. Police obtained an arrest warrant for Cerda on Friday. He was already incarcerated at the Harris County Jail on an unrelated charge.
Key Takeaways
- Francisco Chura, 90, died Sept. 7, 2025, after being stabbed with a screwdriver while sleeping in his Houston home attached to his convenience store
- Anthony Cerda, 34, is charged with capital murder; he was already in Harris County Jail on unrelated charges when the warrant was obtained
- DNA evidence linking Cerda to the bloodied screwdriver proved critical to securing the arrest warrant
- Investigators believe robbery was the motive; approximately $3,000 was missing from a safe at the scene
- The victim told police his attacker had long hair and survived by playing dead until the suspect fled
What's Next
Cerda is slated to appear in court on Monday. He remains held at the Harris County Jail without bond on the capital murder charge while awaiting further proceedings.