Houston man charged with stabbing friend to death in 2016 pleads guilty

HOUSTON - Edward O'Neal, the man who was charged with murdering his friend in Houston in 2016, has pleaded guilty to the murder.

O'Neal pleaded guilty to killing 16-year-old Ryan Roberts in January 2016, stabbing him multiple times and leaving 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.

Christina Roberts, the victim's mother said her son had previously been missing and received news about his death from a neighbor.

In June 2020, O'Neal's bond was lowered from $50,000 to $25,000. While out on bond, O'Neal was arrested and charged with capital murder of Derrick Mike after he was allegedly promised payment from another person.

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According to court documents, O'Neal was evaluated and described as having "serious mental health issues." Records also claim he has been under psychiatric care since he was a child. Court documents from 2019 state O'Neal was found to have a mental illness or be a person with an intellectual disability. 

He was deemed competent to stand trial in 2022.