On May 8, 2023, the bodies of 26-year-old Xxavier Richard Marchus and 27-year-old Brandon Barboza were discovered inside a white Nissan SUV abandoned in a brushy area near the Moose Lodge on FM 2725, between Aransas Pass and Ingleside, Texas. Both men had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
Investigations revealed that Marchus and Barboza were shot at a different location before their bodies were left in the SUV at the discovered site.
Both men resided in Aransas Pass and were employed as chefs at Roosevelt's Fine Dining in Port Aransas. They were well-regarded by their colleagues, with the restaurant's general manager describing them as "great workers, amazing people" who took pride in their culinary skills.
Authorities identified 30-year-old Maurice Sample, a coworker of the victims who also lived in the same apartment complex, as a suspect in the case. With assistance from federal partners, it was determined that Sample left Aransas Pass on the morning of the shootings. He was subsequently located and arrested in Maryland by U.S. Marshals on a murder warrant issued by San Patricio County.
The tragic deaths of Marchus and Barboza have deeply affected the local community, especially within the culinary circles of Port Aransas. An online memorial has been established in honor of Xxavier Marchus, where friends and family have shared memories and condolences, underscoring the impact he had on those around him.
As legal proceedings against Sample continue, the community remains in mourning, seeking justice and closure for the untimely loss of two young men whose lives were abruptly taken. Authorities urge anyone with additional information regarding the case to contact the San Patricio County Sheriff's Office at (361) 364-9600.
