San Antonio Man Sentenced to Life in Stone Oak Murder Case
San Antonio, TX – november 17, 2023 – Malik Pryor, 33, was sentenced to life in prison today in connection with the 2022 murder of 32-year-old Andrew Papen, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office announced. The sentencing concludes a case that spanned nearly a year and involved a key witness: Pryor’s former girlfriend.
The case began on May 15, 2022, when Michael Simek, Papen’s partner, reported him missing after discovering a discarded cigarette pack near their apartment in the 20000 block of Stone Oak Parkway. Papen and Pryor, a neighbor, had reportedly engaged in “several verbal disputes” prior to papen’s disappearance, according to prosecutors.The examination quickly focused on Pryor. His former girlfriend, who had recently moved out of his apartment but was assisting him with transportation to his father’s home on the day Papen vanished, provided crucial testimony. She told police she found Papen inside Pryor’s apartment, seemingly unconscious, seated with his back against a sofa. pryor allegedly claimed Papen had simply “walked in.”
The girlfriend returned to Pryor’s apartment the following day to collect personal belongings and discovered Papen in the same position. She then contacted the San Antonio Police Department.
Authorities determined papen had been strangled to death with an electrical cord. Evidence presented at trial included photographs of the bloodied cord, a bullet, and blood-stained clothing. The Bexar County Medical Examiner also determined papen suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
Pryor remained at large for almost a year before being apprehended in April 2023. The lengthy period between the murder and arrest highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in tracking and apprehending suspects in complex homicide investigations.
Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales praised the outcome of the trial.”Justice demands accountability, and today, justice was served for the victim’s family, friends, and our community,” he stated.
Context & Background: this case underscores the importance of witness testimony in homicide investigations. The testimony of Pryor’s girlfriend was pivotal in establishing a timeline and placing Papen inside the suspect’s apartment. The Stone Oak area, a relatively affluent neighborhood in North San Antonio, rarely sees such violent crimes, making this case especially impactful for the local community. The use of forensic evidence, including the electrical cord and blood analysis, was also critical in securing the conviction.
