Houston, TX – Hayden Humphreys pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Rudy Ricky Diaz, a 38-year-old wheelchair user. The incident occurred on July 23, 2022, in the 18000 block of McKay Drive.
Humphreys claimed he acted in self-defense after Diaz asked him for money and stood up in a threatening manner. However, witnesses described seeing Humphreys delivering punches as Diaz lay unresponsive on the ground.
Diaz died in the hospital approximately two weeks after the beating, with an autopsy confirming blunt force trauma as the cause of death. Video footage showed Humphreys behaving erratically and appearing intoxicated shortly before the incident.
During a recorded jail call, Humphreys expressed remorse and acknowledged his state of mind that night. He was initially charged with murder but accepted a plea deal for a lesser charge, facing an eight-year prison sentence.
Benji Diaz, Rudy’s brother, criticized the sentencing, expressing a desire for a longer term for those who attack the vulnerable. The formal sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2023.
