BELL COUNTY, Texas — The trial date for Caysen Allison, the Belton High School student accused of stabbing and killing classmate 18-year-old Joe Ramirez last year, is set for May 13, 2024.
Allison was in court on Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing at the Bell County Justice Center. In addition to setting a trial date, the court announced plans to go over evidence in the case, including Belton High School security footage and iPhone video of the interaction.
Also in court included Ramirez's mother, Amanda Rios.
"All the truth will come out," Rios told 6 News on Tuesday. "The truth will be told. You can't hide from the truth, and that's what I'm ready for. I just want it all on the table."
On May 3, 2022, the Belton Police Department was called out to the high school. When officers arrived, they learned Ramirez was stabbed after he reportedly got into a fight with Allison in a bathroom, police said. Ramirez was taken to the hospital in Temple where he later died from his injuries. An arrest affidavit said Ramirez was stabbed in the chest, back, legs and arm.
Allison, then 18, reportedly fled the school following the stabbing, but officers were able to locate him at his home and arrested him. Police said Allison admitted to the stabbing and that they found a folding knife at his home, which appeared to covered in blood, according to the affidavit.
Allison was charged with Ramirez's murder. His initial bond was set to $1 million, but it was later reduced to $175,000. He also faced a separate assault charge against a family member, which was an additional $15,000 bond.
"It's very, very, very hard to go in there and face your son's killer," Rios said Tuesday. "To sit in the same room and have to keep your composure. No matter how many years he gets, it's not enough because I have a life sentence without my son."
On Jan. 8, 2024, there will be another hearing to put a gag order in place so Ramirez's family can't speak to the media anymore.