Brothers charged in fatal stabbing of Houston man who ran for help near Gulf Freeway

Police Tape Crime Fingerprint (KPRC2/Click2Houston.com)

Two brothers are behind bars after being charged with the murder of man who was found stabbed to death on the Gulf Freeway service road in mid-March.

Crisanto Caal Ba, 27, and Daniel Salvador Caal Ba, 26, are both facing murder charges in the case.

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The body of 23-year-old Otto Pop Coc was found on the Gulf Freeway service road near 6000 South Interstate Highway 45 on March 14.

Police responded to the scene after receiving reports of a man running down the roadway asking for help. A witness who saw the victim covered in blood called 911 and provided assistance, but despite efforts from paramedics, Pop Coc was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to court documents, the victim was walking home from a convenience store when he was attacked and fatally stabbed with a knife.

Initial investigations didn’t yield suspects or a clear motive, but authorities later identified the Caal Ba brothers as the alleged perpetrators. Daniel was already in custody on an unrelated charge, and after discussions with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, he was charged in this case. Crisanto was arrested without incident on March 25 and also charged with murder.

Both Caal Ba brothers have ICE holds and are currently being held in the Harris County Jail, according to records.


About the Author
Holly Galvan Posey headshot

Holly joined the KPRC 2 digital team in March 2024, leveraging her eight years of expertise in blogging and digital content to share her passion for Houston. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the city's vibrant scenes, all while balancing her roles as a wife and mother to two toddlers.

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