A wealthy gay Houston retiree who was born and raised in Beaumont was allegedly stabbed to death by his boyfriend, who performed in adult films, as the couple planned a move to an upscale condo in Mexico.

David Enrique Meza, 25, and his girlfriend, Taylor Marie Langston, 20, were indicted by a federal grand jury on Dec. 22 for their alleged role in the brutal killing of Jake Clyde Merendino, 51. The pair was arrested on Wednesday and formally charged in Merendino's killing, which took place on May 2 on a highway between Rosarito and Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico – about 20 miles south of the U.S. border.

Meza faces charges of interstate or foreign domestic violence resulting in murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. He remains in jail awaiting a detention hearing on Tuesday. Langston, charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice, received a $50,000 bond so she can be released to care for the couple's newborn baby. A motion hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22. Both pleaded not guilty on Dec. 24.

Merendino (top photo) and Meza met online in the summer of 2013 when the retiree lived in Houston – and when Meza was also in a relationship with Langston, who was pregnant with their child when Merendino was killed. Merendino and Meza began dating and in May were planning a move to a $300,000 oceanfront condo in Mexico that Merendino bought. He closed on the unit the day before Meza allegedly lured him to a remote highway and stabbed him dozens of times in the chest and stomach before dumping his body in a ravine, according to the New York Daily News.

Following the killing, Meza and Langston returned to the hotel where Meza was staying with Merendino to steal Merendino's $15,000 Rolex, iPhone, iPad and laptop, according to the Daily Mail. The watch and electronics were later found in the apartment Meza and Langston shared in San Diego, according to NBC San Diego.

After the killing, Meza contested Merendino's will with a handwritten note making him the only heir. Via NBC San Diego:

After news of Merendino’s death spread, an attorney in Texas, who had drawn up his will in 1998, filed probate paperwork in Texas on May 8, but about a week later, Meza, through his attorneys, contested the will.

They filed a handwritten will, scribbled on letterhead from the Hercor Hotel, which Meza said was written by Merendino on Dec. 21, 2014. It named Meza as the victim’s sole heir.

Meza denied that he killed Merendino, but did admit to federal investigators that he and Langston planned to rob him but he had second thoughts about the robbery and didn't follow through, according to the Daily Mail.

However, documents show he has admitted that he and Langston were planning on robbing him, but got cold feet. 

Meza says he phoned Merendino on the night of his death and the pair arranged to meet at the exact spot his body would later be found. 

Meza (second photo) performed for several gay porn studios, starting his career in adult film as Francisco for Sean Cody in 2010, according to Str8UpGayPorn (NSFW). 

From 2010 to at least 2013, Meza, a.k.a. Mario Romo, worked for nearly a dozen gay porn studios under multiple aliases, including: Sean Cody’s Francisco, Mario Romo (NextDoorStudios, Jake Cruise, Cocksure Men, Helix Studios, Raging Stallion,) and Elder Gonzales (Mormon Boyz). Meza/Romo also worked in several bareback scenes for SX Video and Sketchy Sex towards the end of his career.

A memorial service was held for Merendino on June 27 in Beaumont, where he was born. An obituary said he enjoyed dogs and traveling across the U.S. and Europe.

Friends also said that Merendino traveled frequently, according to 12 News.

12News spoke with Carolyn Guillory, who was Merendino's childhood nanny and caregiver to Merendino's now-deceased parents.

“I don't know why somebody would want to kill him,” she said. “He would give you the shirt off his back if he could. He was just that kind of person.”

Guillory said Merendino planned to visit Beaumont to pick up childhood pictures of his that Guillory has.

She said Merendino was wealthy and traveled abroad frequently.

Friends in Houston said Merendino was adored, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Merendino, 51, had traveled extensively and had already spent time in Mexico. A large man, he enjoyed indulging in cuisines from around the world. His parents had passed, leaving him some inheritance. He’d also made some money flipping houses.

“He had beautiful taste. He loved art,” said longtime Galveston friend Jeannie Hughes.

“People adored J,” said Houston friend Dodie Jackson, referring to his nickname. “If anyone ever needed any help, he would help out where he could.”

Merendino met the suspect online the summer of 2013 while still living in Houston, and the two men began a romantic relationship, according to the search warrant affidavit.

Jackson thinks it was this connection that convinced Merendino to retire full-time in Mexico, coupled with the cheaper cost of living.

[Towleroad | Str8UpGayPorn | New York Daily News | Daily Mail | NBC San Diego | San Diego Union-Tribune | 12 News]