John Jefferson
Left to right: Ulise DeLao (Randall County Jail), Brittney A. Torres (GoFundMe).
A 28-year-old father in Texas who is accused of intentionally running over and killing the mother of his 1-year-old child will retain his parental rights to that child as he awaits his upcoming trial for his role in her death.
Randall County Court Judge James W. Anderson on Monday rejected an effort from the victim’s mother to terminate the parental rights of Ulise DeLao, who is currently free on bond after being charged with manslaughter in the slaying of Brittney A. Torres earlier this year, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
The civil case seeks to terminate DeLao parental rights and allow Torres’ mother, Jaqueline Sanchez, to become the little boy’s legal guardian, records show.
According to a news release from the Canyon, Texas, Police Department, officers at about 1:05 a.m. on May 27, 2024, responded to the area in the 1900 block of 10th Avenue in regard to a report of a vehicular crash involving a pedestrian. The site of the crash is located about 380 miles northwest of Dallas, Texas.
“During the investigation, officers learned Ulise DeLao, age 28, struck Brittany Torres, age 27, while Torres was standing outside of the vehicle,” police wrote in the release. “Torres was pronounced dead at the scene.”
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DeLao was initially arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter. He was subsequently indicted by a grand jury on one count of manslaughter.
According to a report from Amarillo, Texas, ABC and CW affiliate KVII, security footage previously shown in court depicted DeLao twice physically dragging Torres out from inside of a pickup truck. Later that evening, DeLao allegedly ran Torres down in front of the home they shared, killing her.
The report further states that when questioned by police in May, DeLao admitted to running Torres over.
Authorities in June filed upgraded charges of first-degree murder against Ulise, but a grand jury in August refused to indict DeLao for the upgraded charge, records show. He was released from detention in October after a judge ordered his bond reduced from $500,000 to $250,000.
KVII reported that the conditions of DeLao’s bond include wearing a GPS tracking device, complying with an 8 p.m. curfew, remaining in the surrounding counties, surrendering his passport, having an ignition interlock device on his vehicle, and prohibiting him from possessing a firearm or using or possessing any drugs or alcohol.
It was not immediately clear when DeLao was scheduled to appear in court again.
Alysia B. Cordova, an attorney listed as representing Torres’ mother in the civil case, did not immediately respond to a message from Law&Crime seeking additional information on the matter.
A GoFundMe for Torres can be found here.
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