Nyabuto trial day 9: Grand Prairie man found guilty in Smith County deputy’s death

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - A Smith County jury has found Daniel Nyabuto guilty of killing a Smith County deputy in 2022.

Nyabuto, 22, was charged with intoxication manslaughter in the 2022 death of Deputy Lorenzo Bustos, who was in the final stages of his training with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

The state began the first portion of its closing by going through the timeline of the night, showing the phone records that reflect Nyabuto traveling from DFW to Tyler on the night of the crash.

“We believe the defendant’s conduct was sufficient cause of deputy Bustos death,” the state said.

The state once more showed bodycam footage from Texas DPS Trooper Kody Gayle. The post-crash footage showed Nyabuto speaking with Gayle, replying that he “saw the stoplight” when asked what happened. The state argued that this throws out the defense’s argument that Nyabuto could not have seen the deputy’s vehicle.

The prosecution concluded by noting that today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and that this case is about supporting law enforcement.

The defense began by arguing that a conviction based on today being National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day would be unjust. The defense also argued that Bustos could still have been invisible to Nyabuto while standing behind the parked Tahoe. The defense persisted in their argument that Bustos and Deputy Michael Skinner caused the accident with how they conducted the traffic stop saying, “There was no need for him to be in the roadway.”

The defense also pointed out how Trooper Gayle supposedly inappropriately disposed of a blood box that malfunctioned at the hospital when collecting samples of Nyabuto’s blood. Gayle has testified that it did not contain evidence, but the defense argued it should not have been disposed of regardless.

“Integrity of samples matter when life is on the line,” the defense said.

The jury was then sent to begin deliberations, after which they returned the guilty verdict.

Following this, deputy Alex Ortiz, a field training officer with the sheriff’s department, took the stand. Bodycam footage was shown when he arrived on the scene as deputies performed first aid on Bustos. Ortiz described the trip to Dallas with Bustos’ body, saying many people were somehow aware of their situation and payed respects along the way.

Skinner retook the stand and talked about how Bustos was a compassionate man and reviewed footage from the night of the crash.

Bustos’ wife took the stand and spoke about her husband.

“He was the class clown and always tried to me laugh,” said said of her high school sweetheart.

She described a man who loved his children and who was confident in his choice to go into law enforcement, though doing so took a toll on him due to the demands of the job and the schedule.

“He was just the best and he would try harder than anyone,” she said.

Bustos’ wife remembered him as a very hard worker who nonetheless made sure he carved out enough time for his family.

“In his free time he made us feel like we were the only ones,” she said.

She described how her favorite activities with him were singing and dancing, but mostly “just spending time with him.” She said her husband’s death has been difficult on the children as well “because I can’t make them understand why he’s no longer here.”

Bustos’ wife was then dismissed following brief questioning by the defense.

The sentencing phase will resume Wednesday morning.

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