Man accused of killing EPCC professor allegedly inquired about hiring Sicario

Lifelong friends of Javier Quinones, the man accused of murdering his former son-in-law and El Paso Community College professor, told jurors Thursday Quinones asked them about hiring a hit man.

Quinones is accused of murdering William John Wolff, who at the time, was involved in a bitter child custody dispute with Quinones’ daughter, Erika Quinones Wolff. William Wolff was found shot to death in December of 2015 outside of his brother’s law office on the 4000 block of Skyline in Northeast El Paso.

Quinones, along with his wife, daughter and granddaughter, fled to Mexico. Arrest warrants for “interference with child custody” were obtained for the victim’s ex-wife and her parents. All three were taken into custody at a port of entry in California in January 2016.

In court Thursday, Quinones’ lifelong friends testified they were alarmed when Quinones allegedly asked them about a “sicario.”

Cumero Valenzuela Ramirez took the stand and said Quinones called him out of the blue in the summer of 2015 and told him his daughter was getting divorced and they were trying to gain full custody of the woman’s 2-year-old daughter.

He said Quinones told him they were worried they would lose the case because Wolff was influential. He then said Quinones asked him if he knew a hit man. The man testified he was upset Quinones would ask him that.

Another friend of Quinones, Luis Manuel Villareal, testified Quinones called him in mid-2015 to ask if he knew any hit men.

He testified Quinones never said why he was looking for one, but Villareal told the jury he believed Quinones was having problems with Wolff. Villareal then testified Quinones called him two more times that year to once again ask if he knew any hit men.

Also Thursday, El Paso Police Detective David Camacho testified he interviewed the Quinones family after they were taken into custody in San Diego.

Camacho testified Quinones was calm and cooperative with detectives. Quinones allegedly told detectives he was worried because William Wolff threatened Quinones’ daughter.

Wolff indirectly told Erika Quinones he was going to get rid of her, Quinones told detectives. Quinones told detectives he filed a police report then fled to Mexico.

“My daughter is a good girl, well-mannered. She has no addictions. She has no tattoos. She is a hard worker and they have tried to take away the girl from her,” Quinones reportedly told detectives at the time.

Quinones also told detectives William Wolff would drop off the 2-year-old girl with his mother, breaking the rules of the child custody agreement. Quinones said that is why he hired a private investigator. He wanted to prove to a judge the girl didnt belong with Wolff.

The defense also asked Detective Camacho about investigators finding the fingerprint of a man named Eddie Larry Jordan on garbage near the scene of the murder.

The defense said Jordan has a lenghty violent criminal history and is currently on probation. Detectives knew this, but never interviewed Jordan or got his alibi, the defense argued.

Quinones’ defense argued police normally talk to leads in murder cases, but didn’tthis time so there was no way to determine if Jordan had a connection to William Wolff or Quinones.

During his testimony, Camacho acknowledged it was fair to say police didn’t do anything to find Jordan.

The prosecution and the defense have rested their cases. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Friday morning.