Tuesday morning was eventful at the Andres Avalos triple-murder trial. 

  • Tuesday's testimony including couple who spent hours with Avalos before he was arrested
  • Andres Avalos, 36, faces three counts of first-degree murder
  • Avalos accused of killing wife, neighbor and area church pastor
  • Previous stories on this case

The couple that spent hours with Avalos after he allegedly killed three people took the stand Tuesday. 

Jerry and Melissa Hamilton testified about their scary experience with Avalos, who is on trial for the murders of his wife, a neighbor and a Bradenton pastor. 

Avalos, 36, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the Dec. 4, 2014, deaths of his wife Amber Avalos, Denise Potter and the Rev. James "Tripp" Battle. 

According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Avalos fatally shot his wife, 33-year-old Amber, and their neighbor, Potter, 46, at the couple's home in Bradenton.  Avalos then allegedly went to Bayshore Baptist Church, where investigators said Avalos shot and killed Battle.

Avalos was arrested two days later at an area mobile home park. Prosecutors said Avalos confessed to investigators after he was arrested.

Melissa Hamilton on the stand Tuesday. She and her husband spent two hours with Andres Avalos two days after he allegedly killed three people. (Bay News 9 image)

On Tuesday, the Hamiltons said they listened to Avalos cry for hours as he told them what happened on Dec. 4, 2014, the day of the murders. The Hamilton took the stand separately and told how Avalos knocked on their backdoor after he heard Melissa singing. 

Melissa Hamilton said they were practicing songs to sing in their church when Avalos walked up onto their back porch crying.     

"I heard you singing, could I come in and talk to you and your husband," she said Avalos said to her. "I don't want to scare you, but I'm the guy that killed those people."

Avalos said he hid in the woods for a day before approaching the Hamiltons' home. 

Melissa said she and her husband spent two hours praying with Avalos before leaving for church. She said they called 911 once they left their home. 

Hamilton says Avalos never threatened her while at their home.

Avalos said he felt terrible about taking his kids mother, Melissa said on the stand Tuesday. 

"He was not sorry about his wife, but that he took their mother," she said. "She (Denise Potter) was in the wrong place in the wrong time so he shot her."

According to testimony, when deputies arrived, Avalos said as he was being arrested that he did not want to die: " If it was yesterday, it would have been a different story." 

Joy Battle, the widow of slain pastor Tripp Battle, also is expected to testify on Tuesday.