Defense Calls Last Witness In Renteria Resentencing

EL PASO, Texas – Lawyers for convicted child killer David Renteria began wrapping up their case Friday in Renteria’s resentencing trial. The defense called their final witness Friday morning, Doctor Mark Cunningham.

Cunningham is a clinical and forensic psychologist who recently interviewed Renteria, members of his family and a former cathedral high school principal about the environment Renteria grew up in, and how it may have shaped the disturbed sexuality that may have led to his abducting and killing 5-year-old Alexandra Flores in 2001.

Cunningham said he uncovered at least three incidents of pedophile activity among priests during the 1980s at Mount Carmel Elementary and Middle school in Ysleta and at Cathedral High School where Renteria, 38, attended school.

Cunningham testified that while Renteria was at Mount Carmel, there was an incident where a priest was caught having sex with a young boy. He also pointed to an alleged event at Cathedral High School where a student was molested by a man identified only as ‘Brother Sam.’

Prior to his testifying, Cunningham was interviewed by District Attorney Jaime Esparza outside the presence of the jury. Esparza pointed out that there was no evidence that Renteria knew of any of these pedophile acts. Cunningham acknowledged that, but said the environment was ripe to shape Renteria’s disturbed sexuality.

“My testimony is that he is in the swimming pool with the sharks. The sharks are in close proximity to him. His childhood experience was in a shark filled pool. That has an effect on someone. Now if the shark bit him too, then that effect is modified,” he said.

Cunningham did not say Renteria was abused as a child, only that he was around it as a child.

Renteria was convicted of killing Flores and sentenced to death, but last year a judge ordered a restentencing for him because the jury was not given the opportunity to hear if Renteria was remorseful for the murder.

Friday was tenth day of the resentencing trial.

ABC-7 reporter Darren Hunt has been in the courtroom since the start, and will have updates throughout the day on KVIA.com and ABC-7 at 4,5,6 and 10.