Laura Grillo Murder: The Shocking Crime Case Of A Mother Of Three

Posted by Fernande Dalal on Thursday, May 9, 2024

The Laura Grillo Murder case revolves around a tragic and shocking series of events that unfolded in November 2015. 

Laura, a dedicated mother-of-three and volunteer with the Rowlett Police Department, was on the cusp of starting a new chapter in her life as she prepared to marry her fiancé, Ioannis “John” Makris. 

However, just a week before their wedding, Laura’s life was abruptly cut short when she was shot to death in her home.

With surveillance footage, phone records, and vital tips, detectives exposed a twisted murder for hire scheme orchestrated by Makris himself, involving two of his employees, Jesus Trevino and James Villeda.

Recently, the renowned true crime series A Time to Kill on ID channel dedicated an episode to documenting the chilling events of this murder-for-hire conspiracy. 

The episode “Devil at the Depot” provides a gripping account of the investigation and will be broadcast on Thursday, May 25, at 9:00 pm ET. 

What Happened To Her?

Laura Ann Aumiller Grillo, born on August 17, 1978, in Baltimore City, Maryland, was a beloved individual who met a tragic end at 37. 

She was known for her strong work ethic, kindness, and willingness to lend a helping hand. 

Laura actively contributed to her community in Rowlett, Texas, where she dedicated her time as a volunteer for the Rowlett Police Department’s Volunteers In Police Services. 

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She was also a devoted mother to her three children, always striving to give them the best. In July 2015, Laura’s life took a good turn when she got engaged to her long-term partner. They built a life together, and Laura and her children resided with him.

Laura’s brother, Brian Aumiller, also lived in the same house. The couple had set their wedding date for November 21, 2015, and Laura was excitedly looking forward to beginning a new chapter in her life.

However, the family’s happiness was shattered a mere week before the wedding.

On November 13, Laura left home to drop off her children at school while her partner and his mother attended work-related errands. Meanwhile, Brian remained at home, peacefully sleeping in his bedroom.

At approximately 11:50 am, Brian awoke and left his room, only to discover the front door of the house left open. His concern grew as he noticed blood on the kitchen floor and came across the lifeless body of a woman lying face down.

Fearing the worst, Brian immediately sought assistance from two neighboring individuals and promptly contacted the police. 

When authorities arrived at the scene, they identified the dead woman as Laura. The autopsy later revealed that she had suffered a fatal headshot wound above her eye.

Additionally, a bullet casing was found on the floor, suggesting that a .40-calibre firearm had been used in the crime.

The heartbreaking loss of Laura Grillo and the circumstances surrounding her murder shocked the community.

Later, the investigators began investigating a complex network of lies, deception, and betrayal that had remained concealed beneath the facade of Laura’s seemingly perfect and harmonious life. 

Investigating Laura Grillo’s Murder

Initial suspicions of a failed robbery were dispelled when investigators discovered no signs of forced entry into Laura Grillo’s home. 

Instead, they found evidence of forcefully searched drawers and an open bedroom safe. 

The focus of the investigation shifted towards Laura’s immediate family, leading to the discovery that her brother, Brian, who had autism and partial deafness, slept through the attack, unaware of the fatal gunshot.

Subsequently, Ioannis “John” Makris, Laura’s fiancé and owner of a home remodeling business, was interviewed.

Surprisingly, John displayed minimal emotional response to Laura’s tragic death and quickly moved back into the house with the children.

Neighbors further raised suspicions by claiming that John attempted to dispose of Laura’s belongings prematurely.

Additionally, when questioned about the residents of his home, John conveniently omitted any mention of Laura.

Despite these questionable behaviors, John passed a gunshot residue test and provided a solid alibi for his whereabouts on the day of the murder. 

According to his account, he left home that morning to buy supplies for his business at Home Depot. Jesus Trevino and James Villeda, his employees, joined him at the store around 9:45 am. Remarkably, store surveillance footage and the testimonies of both men supported John’s claims.

To gather more evidence, investigators obtained access to John’s phone records. These records revealed that Laura had emailed him in June 2015, expressing her desire to end their relationship.

However, the couple seemingly reconciled the following month after John proposed to her romantically. Through search warrants and location tracing, the police discovered that Trevino’s phone was near Laura’s house at the time of the murder.

They found cell phones, latex gloves, and a pair of tennis shoes in Villeda’s hotel room. 

Although both men were considered potential suspects, the police lacked substantial evidence to bring them in for questioning.

Subsequently, it was revealed that Trevino and Villeda were convicted sex offenders, with Trevino being a previously deported felon who had re-entered the country illegally. 

An arrest warrant was issued for Trevino in December 2015 due to his failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

However, Trevino had already fled Texas by that time. Fortunately, a crucial tip led the authorities to Lorena Rodriguez, one of Trevino’s ex-girlfriends, who reported Laura’s murder to the local police.

Lorena revealed that Trevino had confided in her, sharing that his boss had hired him for $15,000 to kill his wife months before the tragic incident. 

Unaware that John was the employer, Lorena reported this information to the authorities.

Investigators theorized that John, fearing the loss of Laura and their children after she threatened to end the relationship, conspired with Trevino and Villeda to eliminate her before she could leave.

Moreover, investigators discovered photos of an unidentified woman holding a gun, similar to the murder weapon, in Trevino’s Google account. 

The woman was identified as Janet Barron, another former girlfriend of Trevino’s, who provided the authorities with Trevino’s new phone number. In April 2016, Trevino was traced to Clearwater, Florida, arrested, and deported back to Texas.

During the investigation, the police contacted Ramon Fino, whose identification pictures were found in Trevino’s Google account.

Fino disclosed that Trevino had approached him and another individual named Juan Salazar to participate in the murder plot, but they both declined. 

Meanwhile, Villeda was arrested on a drug charge in May 2016. After persistent questioning regarding Laura’s death, Villeda confessed to his involvement in the entire murder-for-hire scheme

Where Are John Makris, Jesus Trevino, and James Villeda Now?

After James Villeda accepted a plea deal and provided crucial testimony during Laura Grillo’s murder trial, they received a 25-year sentence.

On the other hand, John Makris, aged 45, was found guilty of capital murder and is currently incarcerated at the H.H. Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, Texas, serving a life sentence without parole since September 2018.

Similarly, Jesus Trevino was convicted of capital murder and served his sentence at the Jim Ferguson Unit in Midway. 

His sentence also includes life imprisonment without parole. James Villeda, aged 36, is currently detained at the J. Dale Wainwright Unit in Lovelady, and his projected release date is May 5, 2041. As per official records, he will be ineligible for parole before November 2028.

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