Police Say OKC Man Confesses To Killing Elderly Father, Putting His Body In A Toolbox

Graphic new details were released following the discovery a southwest Oklahoma City man's body inside a toolbox.

Police arrested the victim’s son, 31-year-old Francisco Tapia, on Wednesday after officers said he confessed to the brutal killing.

The 71-year-old victim was in fear for his life and filed for a victim’s protective order only days ago. The man's son was served with the VPO on Wednesday. He told police that was why he attacked his father.

“We all learn from a very young age,” said a family member. “Especially in this neighborhood, that it’s just part of life. These are things that happen every day.”

Family and neighbors gathered outside the crime tape around 71-year-old Esteban Tapia’s home as police investigated the scene. They were saddened and shocked to hear Tapia’s body was found in a toolbox.

“It’s a very chaotic situation, but once you start putting the pieces together it’s a very sad situation,” a family member said.

Tapia's daughter called 911 when she could not find her elderly father. She told police she thought his body was inside a toolbox, and her brother was on drugs and was responsible.

Officers took Tapia into custody at the scene and took him to police headquarters for questioning.

Court documents spell out that Tapia admitted to beating his father to death with a tube. He then admitted to investigators that he put his father's body in a box and was going to take it to a landfill.

“No one deserves anything like that,” said a family member.

That was not the first time police were called to the family's home. Four recent incidents prompted Tapia's father to file for a victim's protective order against him. That paperwork indicates Tapia killed a family dog and threatened to kill his father.

“Pray for strength for the family,” said a family member. “At this point, there’s not much we can do.”