Waco Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for 2024 Luring Plot and Homicide of Local Mechanic

Armando Casiano Jr. sentenced to 40 years for the murder of Lee Murrow. Casiano lured the victim to an ambush before dumping the body in the Brazos River.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 11:44 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KTRE (ktre.com)

Guilty Plea and Concurrent Sentencing for Violent Offenses

A legal resolution has been reached in a high profile McLennan County homicide case. Armando Casiano Jr. appeared in the 19th State District Court on Monday to enter a guilty plea for the May 2024 murder of 32 year old Lee Murrow. As part of a plea agreement, Judge Thomas West sentenced Casiano to 40 years for the murder, along with a 25 year term for a separate aggravated assault involving a former neighbor. The court ruled that these sentences will be served concurrently. Casiano, a repeat offender who previously served 14 years for a sexual assault conviction, must serve at least 20 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

The May 2024 Luring Plot and Fatal Shooting

The details of the murder reveal a premeditated ambush involving a second individual, Kimisha Denise Mathis. According to investigative affidavits, Mathis contacted Murrow under the guise of a meeting to lure him away from his residence. When Murrow arrived, Casiano was lying in wait, hidden inside the trunk of a vehicle and armed with a pistol. A physical struggle ensued between the two men, ending when Casiano shot Murrow in the chest. During Monday's hearing, Casiano explicitly confirmed that Mathis was aware of the plan to harm the victim.

Disposal of Evidence and Discovery in the Brazos River

Following the shooting, the perpetrators engaged in a series of attempts to conceal the crime. Authorities allege that Casiano and Mathis initially dumped Murrow’s body in an undisclosed location but returned days later to relocate it. The body was eventually placed back into a vehicle trunk and thrown into the Brazos River near Cameron Park. It remained in the water for several days before being discovered by police near Jacob’s Ladder on University Parks Drive. Forensic investigators also recovered the victim's discarded clothing in a field in Bellmead, which helped link the suspects to the crime scene.