SAN ANTONIO - Day four of the murder trial of Christian Bautista continued Monday. Bautista is accused of killing 24-year-old Lauren Bump on New Year's Eve 2013.
Bump was visiting San Antonio during her vacation from school. She decided to take a jog through O.P. Schnabel Park. Her body was found by park-goers around 5:30 p.m.
Police believe Bautista used a military knife in the murder. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Prosecutors called several witnesses to the stand Monday; one of which was Bautista's former roommate, Ryan O'Shea.
O'Shea says he met Bautista at a bus stop, and that's how they became roommates in December 2013. O'Shea says Bautista, also known as "Plex", cared about his appearance, and always paid rent on time in the beginning.
Christmas 2013, O'Shea says he was gifted a $300 gift card to Walmart. He says he sent Bautista to the store to get groceries for them. He recalls Bautista only purchasing gifts for his own daughter.
O'Shea also says he was given an 8-inch combat knife that Christmas. He says he had no use for it, so he gave it to Bautista. He recalls the next day seeing Bautista with the knife tucked in his pants with no sheath. Bautista is known to have frequented O.P. Schnabel Park on the way home from work.
In the early-morning hours of New Year's Day 2014, O'Shea says Bautista walked in their trailer around 4 a.m. He says he asked him about getting a protective cover for the combat knife, and Bautista's response was, "I stuck some b**** and had to get rid of it."
O'Shea says Bautista called his sister after he got arrested, which made O'Shea worry for her safety.
Police detectives questioned O'Shea about the murder of Lauren Bump, and he admits leaving out the detail about Bautista's confession at first.
"It's just how I was brought up. Been on the streets for so long I wasn't gonna say anything unless I had to," O'Shea said. "Once I found out that it was an innocent young woman, I didn't want this to happen. At all. I'd rather him be locked up then try to protect him."
Upon learning further details of the murder, including the death of an innocent woman, O'Shea decided to return to detectives to tell them about the confession.
O'Shea admits he was under the influence of heroin and meth during the police interviews, and when he drew a replica of the knife for detectives.
Other testimonies included John Posey, a Video Record Specialist with VIA, and Jesus Rodriguez, an Action Protection Manager at Walmart.
Posey showed the courtroom various angles taken by a VIA bus camera at the Walmart off Bandera and Mainland. Detectives requested the video that showed a man that fit a particular description.
"A hooded jacket with 'Premiere Restoration' on the back," recalled Posey.
The videos appear to show Bautista walking out of O.P. Schnabel Park to the nearby Walmart at 5:47 p.m. on New Year's Eve. The park provides a quick exit to the retailer.
Gonzalez provided evidence of Bautista using his credit card to make a single purchase that evening around 6 o'clock. The courtroom was shown a receipt for a pair of dress pants, costing less than $30.
The VIA bus footage captures Bautista walking on, asking riders for change for $5, and starting a conversation with a fellow passenger. Bautista is seen getting off the bus shortly after 6 p.m. off Bandera Rd. and Eckhert Rd.
The defendant was significantly tamer in the courtroom Monday. This, after he reportedly acted out on several occasions, including at his own competency hearing.
During one witness testimony, Bautista is on the record sticking his tongue out as she identified him as the man following her in the park. One of the female prosecutors added that Bautista winked and blew a kiss at her during the proceedings.
Bautista continued to mouth inaudible words in court on Monday.
