Texas Man Sentenced to Life for Masonic Lodge Murder

by Christopher Hodapp

Yesterday, after three years of investigations and courtroom proceedings, Julio Diaz was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Freemason Robert Wise, plus 50 years for each of two Masonic-lodge arsons, with the arson sentences running concurrently. WBro. Wise, 55, was shot at point-blank range and killed by Diaz outside McAllen Lodge 1110 in July 2023. He shot a video of the killing and posted it on his social media page.

Previously, Diaz set fire to the Masonic lodges in McAllen in 2022, and Weslaco on February 20, 2023, destroying it. He was sentenced to two additional 50 years terms for each of those arson convictions, running concurrently.

Brother Robert Wise, 55,

(Photos: McAllen Lodge 1110 Facebook page)

When he was arrested, Diaz told investigators that he believed Masons to be "devil worshiping Illuminatists." A Facebook commenter said Diaz had previously posted anti-Masonic comments on social media, claiming the lodge "had put a curse on him."

WBro. Wise's widow was given the opportunity in court to confront Diaz for the first time.

From the report by KRGV-TV5:

"My husband Robert was not, was not your choice to take. That was not your choice. I had just seen him 15 minutes before you shot him. Yeah, you go ahead and yawn," Sanchez said.

She then turned to Diaz's mother, the one person who, like her, sat through the case from the other side of the courtroom. Sanchez told Diaz she had thought about what his actions had done to his mother too.

Diaz answered back.

"And she's the only one you didn't think about of who's going to take care of her," Sanchez said.

"I did think of her," Diaz said.

"No, you didn't," Sanchez said.

“She's very proud of you. You think you're very smart. Look at where you're at now," Sanchez said.

"Perfect," Diaz said.

KRGV-TV reports Diaz will remain in jail for several weeks before transfer to state prison. His attorney is awaiting a court-ordered neurological report and may seek a new trial or raise the issue of Diaz' mental health on appeal. But for now, he's behind bars.

Ever since the COVID lockdowns, there has been an alarming increase throughout the U.S. and Canada in incidents of vandalism and arson against Masonic halls by admitted paranoid anti-Masonic extremists and conspiracists. Anti-Masonic sentiments online seem to be on the rise, with a greater sense of distrust and hate directed at the fraternity.

We all be extremely cautious regarding security in and around our buildings going forward. That means monitored surveillance cameras, locked outer doors during events, and vigilant Tylers who probably shouldn't be on the lodge room side of the door during meetings, I'm sad to say.

Equally important, law enforcement officials need to be informed by us every time there are threats or acts of vandalism and violence directed at us – police departments and individual officers can't be automatically expected to realize that anti-Masonic hatred is a very real syndrome lurking out in the general population.