Testimony continues in the Caysen Allison murder trial, a Texas man accused of fatally stabbing a classmate in 2022.
On Tuesday, Temple police officer Keith Esquivel testified about finding the weapon used to kill the victim, Jose Luis “Joe” Ramirez Jr., 18.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, prosecutors said Allison, then 18, stabbed Ramirez multiple times during a fight involving several students on May 18, 2022, at Belton High School in Belton.
Esquivel detailed how he found the knife on the side of a single-lane road, hidden behind the tree line, following the fatal altercation. Images shown in court revealed blood on the knife.
Esquivel told the court that Allison ultimately cooperated in the investigation and that “it would’ve been difficult to locate the weapon,” without him, KWTX reports.
Lead detective Gene Cole from the Belton Police Department also took the stand and testified that Allison admitted he had taken the knife from his stepdad’s closet that morning, anticipating a confrontation with Ramirez.
Cole added that Allison could not remember how many times he stabbed Ramirez and noted that Allison appeared calm until he saw the knife, at which point he became visibly sick.
The incident involved Allison, Ramirez, and four other boys inside the bathroom on the morning in question. Ramirez had previously confronted Allison during an after-prom party after accusing Allison of behaving aggressively toward a friend’s date. The pair agreed to fight at a later time but bumped into each other in the bathroom beforehand.
Ramirez allegedly said that if they were going to fight, they should go ahead and fight in the bathroom, according to witness testimony.
Witnesses said the bathroom brawl was not planned and that Allison said he did not want to fight before Ramirez threw a punch at him. Allison then stabbed Ramirez multiple times, including in the chest, arms and buttocks.
Some witnesses described Ramirez as someone known to fight, while another witness said he didn’t know that of the victim. One witness said Allison told her he wanted Ramirez on “life support,” while another witness said Allison wasn’t known to carry weapons and had the knife for self-defense only.
If found guilty, Allison could face life behind bars.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photos: Joe Ramirez/Handout; Caysen Allison/Benton County PD]