DA Greg Willis Announces Life Sentence for McKinney Man Who Murdered Friend in New Hope
(McKinney, Texas) - Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced today that a jury sentenced Pablo Berrios, 53, of McKinney, to life in prison for Murder of his friend in New Hope.
The Crime
On September 27, 2025, Collin County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a disturbance call near Drift Drive in New Hope. They found the victim suffering from multiple blunt force injuries to the head. Berrios was found outside of the residence with blood on his hands and clothing. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Investigation
Deputies located the victim's wife, who was inside the home and witnessed the attack. She identified Berrios as the
killer. After waiving his rights, Berrios gave a detailed interview to Investigator Ramiro
Acosta. He admitted that after a minor argument he “just snapped,” grabbed a pipe, and repeatedly
struck the victim in the head and face with the intent to kill him. Berrios told investigators he paused the attack
to go outside and smoke a cigarette before returning to continue beating the victim, stating, “If you are going to
do it, do it right.”
Verdict and Sentence
Berrios pled guilty to Murder, a first degree felony. After hearing the evidence, the defendant's own confession, and witness testimony, a Collin County jury sentenced him to life in prison.
DA Greg Wills stated:
“This was a brutal, senseless murder. Pablo Berrios beat his friend to death with a pipe in front of the victim's own wife, then casually paused to smoke a cigarette before finishing the attack. Today, a Collin County jury made sure he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. I thank our outstanding prosecution team, sheriff deputies, and the jury for delivering justice for this family and ensuring Berrios can never harm another person in our community.”
Prosecution Team
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Alex Oestreich and Claire Kirk prosecuted the case, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Joshua Duncan and Victim's Assistance Coordinator Jill Moore.