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Alleged Saudi hitman, suspect in death of Washington Post reporter once visited Houston

One of the alleged killers in the case of the missing journalist has been identified as Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb and he was here in Houston last Spring.

HOUSTON - On Thursday, President Trump said it, “certainly looks like” Jamal Khashoggi, the missing Saudi journalist and U.S. resident, is dead.

“It certainly looks that way to me, it’s very sad,” Trump said before boarding Air Force One for a trip to Missoula, Montana, where he will host a campaign rally. He did not offer any further details.

One of the alleged killers in the case has been identified as Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb and he was here in Houston last Spring.

The Saudi Arabia Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and his father, King Salman, have denied involvement in the writer’s disappearance.

They have repeatedly stated the man left the Saudi consulate in Turkey freely on October 2nd.

But Turkish officials say they have video and audio recordings that prove otherwise.

The officials allege Kashoggi, a critic of the Crown Prince, was murdered by a hit squad sent by the Saudi government.

The suspects were identified by Turkey and are part of the Crown Prince’s personal security team. They say it would be impossible for them to have carried out an attack without the Prince's blessing.

The Crown Prince was seen in East Houston in April of this year at a Habitat for Humanity event. One of the alleged hit-men, Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, was also seen at the event.

Video footage shows him standing behind the crowd that included the Prince and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

Habitat has been long-time partners with Aramco Services Company. Headquartered in Houston, it’s the U.S. subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, an oil company. It's run in part by the Saudi royals.

The company donated millions to rebuild homes flooded by Hurricane Harvey.

Turkish officials say they have evidence that 15 Saudi agents flew to Turkey on October 2, 2018 and dismembered Kashoggi’s body.

President Trump says there will be severe consequences if the Saudi royals played a role in the murder.

“It puts Donald Trump in an awkward position of having to criticize not only what he believes is an important ally, but probably a big economic engine in our country, because of oil and investments in things like Silicon Valley.” said Bob Stein, KHOU Political Analyst.

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