HOUSTON - A Houston man has been charged in the death of a 16-year-old who went missing in January.
Edward O'Neal Jr., 18, is charged with murder in the death of Ryan Robert.
On Jan. 15, Christina Roberts reported her son Ryan missing after he never came home from school. A few days later, he was found brutally murdered in the woods near his home.
At the time when her son's body was discovered, Roberts told KHOU 11 News she knew who did it and reported O'Neal to the police.
"I just want justice for my son," Roberts said in January. "I'm beyond frustrated. I'm angry."
For Roberts, O'Neal's arrest was a long time coming. Roberts says one of O'Neal's relatives came to her back and January and said O'Neal had admitted to the murder. The relative then told Roberts where Ryan's body was, he was found in that spot stabbed to death.
The suspect's father, Edward O'Neal Sr., helped check his son into Ben Taub's psychiatric unit last month and says O'Neal has a history of mental illness and devil worshiping.
"Oh I know that he's worshiping the devil and stuff," said O'Neal. "He didn't tell me nothing. He didn't say nothing about doing nothing. He's mentally retarded."
The suspect and victim were close friends, Roberts says O'Neal even lived with her for a few months at one point.
Although a motive isn't clear Roberts believes the murder was a satanic ritual and wants O'Neal to pay for the life he allegedly took.
"Give him life," said Roberts. "Give him the death penalty, I don't care which one but I don't want him harming not another person."
Edward O'Neal is currently in the Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
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