Witness testimony Prible shot Herrera and his fiancée, then burned her corpse

A federal appeals court reinstated a bank robber’s death sentence for murdering his closest friend, his buddy’s fiancée, and their three children.

A three-judge majority of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court finding that would have released Ronald Jeffery Prible Jr. Prible, 50, failed to establish convincing arguments to undermine his conviction and punishment.

In 1999, Prible killed Esteban “Steve” Herrera, Herrera’s fiancée Nilda Tirado, Tirado’s 7-year-old daughter Rachel Elizabeth Cumpian, Herrera’s 7-year-old daughter Valerie, and the couple’s 22-month-old daughter Jade Herrera.

Prible shot Herrera, raped and killed Tirado, then burned her corpse to remove DNA evidence, according to prosecution testimony. The fire’s smoke killed the youngsters.

Herrera, Prible’s closest buddy and accomplice in crime, reportedly stole banks and sold narcotics alongside Prible. Men wanted to create a topless club.

Prosecutors say Prible accused Herrera of stealing $250,000, then turned on him.

In 2020, a federal court ordered prosecutors to retry Prible after his attorneys claimed they withheld evidence and mishandled jailhouse informant testimony.

Defense counsel stated prosecutors instructed informants to testify against Prible and that his cellmate, Michael Beckcom, said Prible confessed because Beckcom was “promised relief”