HOUSTON – Edward O’Neal accused of murdering his friend Houston He confessed to the murder in 2016.

O’Neal admitted to killing 16-year-old Ryan Roberts in January 2016, stabbing him multiple times and dumping his body in a wooded area in the 4100 block of Holmes Road.

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O’Neal was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

The victim’s mother, Christina Roberts, said her son had previously been missing and she received news of his death from a neighbor.

In June 2020, O’Neal’s bond was reduced from $50,000 to $25,000. O’Neal was arrested while out on bail and charged with fatally shooting Derrick Mike after allegedly being promised payment from another person.

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O’Neal was evaluated and found to have “serious mental health issues,” according to court documents. The records also allege that he had been under psychiatric care since childhood. In court documents dated 2019, O’Neal was found to have a mental illness or intellectual disability.

He was deemed competent to stand trial in 2022.