Man identified in Shiner beating death

SHINER – Lavaca County authorities have released the identity of the 47-year-old Gonzales man who was beaten to death 10 days ago when he was caught allegedly molesting a 5-year-old girl.

Jesus Mora Flores was beaten by the father of the girl on the afternoon of June 9 on a rural farm pasture on County Road 302 between Shiner and Yoakum.

Lavaca County sheriff Micah Harmon said Flores was attempting to sexually assault the girl, whose age was originally reported by officials to be 4.

“When emergency medical personnel arrived, Jesus Mora Flores’ pants and underwear were down and the man’s genitals were exposed,” Harmon reported.

According to a neighbor, Flores had been hired by the child’s father to care for horses on the property.

A public records search showed no permanent address for Flores in Lavaca County.

Harmon also confirmed that law enforcement officials discovered a witness to the attacks, but has not identified that person.

Investigators discovered that when a witness observed Flores forcibly carrying a 5-year-old child off to a secluded area, the witness ran for help and alerted the child’s father.

The father then heard the child’s scream and ran to help her, Harmon said. The father quickly removed Jesus Mora Flores from on top of his child and inflicted several blows to the man’s head and neck area.

Harmon said all of the witness statements and physical evidence in the case corroborated the father’s statement.

Harmon said Flores was not in the United States illegally, and possessed a permanent resident card, more widely known as a green card.

The sheriff said his office has been working with Mexican Consulate officials to locate Flores’ family.

Complete results of the autopsy conducted in Travis County are not expected for several weeks.

Harmon said the girl’s family and father have cooperated with authorities.

District Attorney Heather McMinn said that Harmon “made the right decision in not arresting the father at the time of the incident.”

Harmon added that the girl’s father remains remorseful about Flores’ death, and said he expects a grand jury to hear the case next week.

“This case has been very traumatizing on the child, her father and his entire family,” he said.