LAREDO, TX – A violent act carried out in the middle of the night has led to a 33-year prison sentence for a Laredo man who admitted to fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend’s stepfather as the victim slept.
Tomas Aguilar, 20, learned his fate last week when he pleaded guilty in a Webb County courtroom to the 2022 murder of Oscar Bedarte, according to court documents. Aguilar was only 18 years old when the fatal incident took place on March 30, 2022, inside a residence on Iturbide Street.
Investigators say Aguilar entered the home through an unlocked door in the early hours of the morning. He armed himself with a kitchen knife and made his way to the bedroom, where he found Bedarte, 42, asleep. Aguilar stabbed Bedarte multiple times, continuing the attack even as the older man awoke and tried to defend himself, authorities reported.
After the stabbing, Aguilar fled from the scene and soon dialed 911. Responding officers arrived shortly after 1:30 a.m. to find Bedarte unresponsive and lying in a pool of blood. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
In his initial conversation with authorities, Aguilar did not immediately confess. Instead, he told officers a misleading account, claiming he had acted in self-defense after being attacked by an unknown man at the residence. Aguilar alleged he was visiting the home as the guest of two men he met in a park, a story that officers quickly began to question.
Detectives noted that Aguilar had visible injuries but found elements of his narrative inconsistent with the evidence at the scene. A heavy concentration of blood in the bedroom directly contradicted his claims. When challenged, Aguilar admitted to knowing Bedarte and confessed to stabbing him in his sleep.
Aguilar reportedly told investigators he was driven by intense anger over issues involving Bedarte and his stepdaughter, Aguilar’s former girlfriend. He revealed he’d been contemplating the act for months but only went through with it that night.
Authorities have not elaborated on the specifics of Aguilar’s grievances against Bedarte, and public records do not clarify what prompted Aguilar’s actions.
Aguilar was arrested the same day of the homicide and ultimately faced a murder charge. His plea deal closed the case with a 33-year sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Oscar Bedarte is survived by five children. Loved ones described him as someone who enjoyed sharing music, dancing, and laughter with those close to him.