Authorities made a chilling discovery beneath a grandmother’s home in Texas, uncovering a hidden trapdoor that led to the capture of a fugitive wanted for capital murder.
Trevor McEuen, 33, had been on the run since May 5, when he removed his court-ordered ankle monitor and failed to appear for his trial in the 2023 shooting death of his neighbor, Aaron Martinez.
In the wake of his disappearance, McEuen was added to Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a $30,000 reward offered for information leading to his arrest.
After weeks of searching, authorities received a tip that led them to a residence about 65 mils east of Dallas in Van Zandt County – McEuen’s grandmother’s house.
More than 30 officers from local, state, and federal agencies, coordinated by the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, converged on the property on Sunday evening around 11 pm.
‘We got our team together to execute. It took us a little longer than what we wanted. He didn’t want to come out,’ Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers told Fox4.
‘So we talked and talked, surrounded and talked, then finally used a little tear gas. And we couldn’t find him. Then we went boots on the ground inside the house.’
Authorities made a chilling discovery beneath a grandmother’s home in Texas, uncovering a hidden trapdoor (pictured) that led to the capture of a fugitive wanted for capital murder
McEuen resisted arrest, refusing to leave the makeshift hideout, forcing authorities to take further action. ‘We found a scuttle hole that he’d cut into the floor,’ Beavers said. ‘Then we got a little negotiating with him, a little more tear gas, and he decided to come out’
They found McEuen barefoot and covered in mud, hiding in a crawl space. He now faces multiple charges, including capital murder, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and arson
After hours of searching the Grand Saline home, officers discovered a hidden trapdoor beneath the floorboards. When they opened it, they found McEuen barefoot and covered in mud, hiding in a crawl space.
Still, McEuen resisted arrest, refusing to leave the makeshift hideout, forcing authorities to take further action.
‘We found a scuttle hole that he’d cut into the floor,’ Beavers said. ‘Then we got a little negotiating with him, a little more tear gas, and he decided to come out.’
McEuen now faces multiple charges, including capital murder, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and arson.
He is accused of fatally shooting 35-year-old Aaron Martinez in Forney, Texas, in May 2023 – allegedly firing between 15 and 30 shots execution-style into Martinez’s head.
‘This person has done some very heinous things and needs to be put in jail,’ Beavers said. ‘And the Martinez family needs justice finally. We’ve got him in custody. I think he’s gonna get to see justice.’
The discovery of the hidden trapdoor and McEuen’s capture brought a wave of relief to the Martinez family and the surrounding community.
Trevor McEuen (left), 33, had been on the run since May 5. Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers (right) smoked him out ‘with a little tear gas’
More than 30 officers from local, state, and federal agencies, coordinated by the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, converged on the Grand Saline property (pictured) on Sunday evening
‘I am happy,’ Salvador Martinez, the victim’s father, said in an interview with CBS News. ‘This time, the sheriff, the city of Kaufman did their job. Don’t let him out again. He’s not supposed to get another chance at bond.’
The Martinez family had previously raised concerns about McEuen’s potential to flee, citing a history of bond violations and alleged threats against the victim.
‘We hope he gets zero bond. We hope the trial is expeditious and that a jury finds him guilty,’ Carlos Quintanilla, a family representative, said.
McEuen was originally arrested in May 2023, released on bond, and later indicted for capital murder in November of that year. In September 2024, he was released on a $1 million bond. He reportedly violated his bond conditions by posting photos of Martinez and his relatives on Instagram.
He is accused of fatally shooting 35-year-old Aaron Martinez (pictured) in Forney, Texas, in May 2023 – allegedly firing between 15 and 30 shots execution-style into Martinez’s head
Given the publicity surrounding the case, McEuen’s defense attorney has since signaled a possible move to request a change of venue.
‘We’ll probably be filing for a change of venue just because this has been such a hot-button topic in Kaufman County,’ McEuen’s attorney, Abigail Spain, said. ‘We just want to make sure that our client gets an unbiased jury.’
The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office has stated it remains committed to securing justice for the Martinez family and is currently investigating whether McEuen received assistance during his time as a fugitive.
In light of the ongoing legal challenges, the Martinez family has also urged officials to consider transferring the case to another jurisdiction if Kaufman County is unable to prosecute it effectively.
