Josue Chirino charged with murder after contractor found dead in Spring renovation home

Harris County police charged 19-year-old Josue Chirino with murder after contractor Juan Salinas was found dead in a Spring home under renovation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 10:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from FOX 26 Houston

Discovery of Deceased Contractor Inside Spring Residence

A welfare check conducted by concerned relatives led to the grim discovery of a deceased carpenter inside a home in the Spring area on Sunday morning. Harris County Sheriff's Office detectives were dispatched to a property on Goldensong Court around 11:30 a.m. after the victim's sister reported finding her brother unresponsive. Investigators stated that the victim, identified as 47 year old Juan Salinas, had been working as a contractor on a multi week renovation project at the site but had not been heard from since Friday afternoon.

Severe Physical Trauma Detailed in Preliminary Investigation

Upon entering the residence, homicide detectives located Salinas’ body on the ground floor of the home. According to Sergeant reports from the scene, the victim suffered from extensive physical trauma to his head, neck, and upper torso area. Authorities believe the injuries were inflicted by an unknown object during a violent confrontation. The clinical nature of the wounds suggested a high degree of force was used, turning a standard residential construction site into the scene of a major criminal investigation.

Pasadena Vehicle Stop Leads to Homicide Suspect

The investigation shifted rapidly toward the victim's missing vehicle, which was eventually spotted and intercepted by law enforcement in the Pasadena area. The truck contained four occupants, including two juveniles and one adult male, all of whom were taken to the Sheriff's Office Homicide Division for questioning. While the woman and the teenagers were subsequently released, the adult male remained in custody as detectives established a direct professional link between him and the deceased contractor.