The body recovered in a vehicle’s trunk chased down by authorities in Nebraska on Friday, October 14, 2022, was identified as that of a missing Texas woman. Authorities confirmed that the woman was the mother of the vehicle’s teenage driver.
The deceased was identified as Michelle Roenz, 49, of the Houston area. During the chase, the 17-year-old driver crashed on Interstate 80 near Grand Island and is receiving treatment in the hospital after suffering multiple injuries.
“The crash occurred along Interstate 80 near Grand Island after we received an alert for a Texas-bound car believed to be involved in homicide was spotted leaving the town,” Nebraska Police Patrol said.
A few minutes later, a trooper noticed the car on the road and attempted to stop it. However, the driver did not cooperate and continued driving, and a chase ensued after he refused to pull over, reaching high speeds of about 110 mph. Soon, the car crashed, and the driver suffered multiple injuries.
Ed Gonzalez, Harris County Sheriff, confirmed that the teen’s health deteriorated on Friday and he was transferred to a hospital in Omaha due to his serious injuries.
The two, the mom, Roenz, and her son, Tyler, were reported missing from their home on Thursday by the boy’s father. According to police reports, the father also reported the family car missing. Homicide officers from Texas responded to the Texas home, and based on the evidence collected, they issued a rescue warrant for both Michelle Roenz and her son.
The preliminary reports indicate that Roenz died due to blunt force trauma and strangulation, Thomas Gilliland, a Harris County deputy, said on Monday.
Gilliland further noted that Texas authorities are collaborating with Nebraska officials to extradite the teen to his county, where he will face the charge of unauthorized motor vehicle use. Once he is out of the hospital and the investigators interview him, he will face an additional charge of murder.
At the time of his disappearance, the teen was out on a bond of $15,000 after being charged with a third-degree felony stemming from an alleged sexual assault on a young woman.