Affidavit: Man accused of using machete and running over friend in 2019 Northeast Side killing

A 26-year-old is accused of cutting a man with a machete and then running him over with an SUV, according to an arrest affidavit.

Richard Daniel Villanueva was charged in connection with the death of 27-year-old Dylan Jacob Deleon, who was found dead by police on Oct. 9 2019 on the shoulder of the road near the area of Weidner and Leonhardt roads on the Northeast side.

Police said they noticed “chopping” injuries on his shoulder and side of his head, consistent with an edged weapon, the affidavit said. It also appeared Deleon had been hit by a vehicle multiple times.

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Less than a mile away, officers found a black Chevrolet Tahoe abandoned in the back of an apartment complex near the 5300 block of Encanta. The vehicle had blood on the front bumper and fender and looked as if someone had attempted to clean it.

A witness later contacted police saying Villanueva had asked his friend to use the Tahoe earlier that day and had been with Deleon when he borrowed it, the affidavit said.

It wasn’t until June 2020 that investigators were able to confirm that Villanueva’s DNA was found on one of the truck’s door handles, according to the affidavit.

He was arrested on July 31 and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @TaylorPettaway