A girl, aged 11, was tragically found strangled, concealed in a plastic bag under a bed in her Pasadena, Texas apartment.
Upon Carmelo Gonzalez’s return from work on August 12 and discovery of his unresponsive daughter, Maria Gonzalez, Pasadena Police were summoned. On-site paramedics confirmed her death.
That morning, after her father left for work, Maria informed him via a text message about a knock on their door. He told her to remain secure and not open the door. He contacted relatives in the same complex, but they couldn’t locate the girl during a preliminary search.
Medical assessments, as conveyed by Chief Josh Bruegger, noted asphyxiation, with evidence of strangulation and significant trauma to Maria’s head and neck. The inquiry also showed that she had been sexually assaulted.
A suspect, Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez, 18, was taken into custody in Shreveport, Louisiana on August 19 and is awaiting extradition. He had been named a person of interest and lived in the same apartment complex but had left the area.
The father and daughter had been apartment residents for a short span of three months. Maria’s mother lives in Guatemala.