Maria Gonzalez, 11, killed in her Pasadena, TX home *ARREST*

Manhunt underway after Pasadena girl found dead inside her home, police say

There are no suspects in custody. Pasadena police are asking anyone with information on this case to give them a call.

www.khou.com

Manhunt underway after Pasadena girl found dead inside her home, police say​

An 11-year-old Pasadena girl was sexually assaulted and strangled at her home Saturday while her dad was at work, police said.

She has been identified as Maria Gonzalez from Guatemala. As of Tuesday, no arrests have been made.

Police said they were called to an apartment complex on Main Street near Harris Avenue at about 3 p.m. when Maria's father, Carmelo Gonzalez, called 911. He came home from work and found his daughter's body wrapped in a trash bag and stuffed in a laundry basket that was put beneath her bed.

Carmelo Gonzalez told police he had left for work at about 9:45 a.m., leaving his daughter home alone. A little later, he got a message from his daughter saying there was someone knocking at the front door.

Carmelo Gonzalez said he sent her a message back, telling her not to open the door. She said she wouldn't and that she would stay in her bed. After that, Carmelo Gonzalez never heard from Maria again, said Pasadena Police Chief Josh Brugger.

"I called and called and called," Carmelo Gonzalez said.

Brugger said that at about 1 p.m., Carmelo Gonzalez contacted family members who stayed in the same apartment complex and asked them to check on Maria. Maria's aunt and uncle both went to look for her but said they couldn't find her inside the apartment.

Police said Carmelo Gonzalez got off work and made it home shortly after 3 p.m. That's when he found his daughter's body wrapped in a trash bag and stuffed in a laundry basket that was put underneath her bed. He called 911 and when paramedics arrived on the scene, they provided medical aid to Maria before pronouncing her dead.

A medical examiner confirmed Monday that Maria's cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation. It was also determined that Maria was sexually assaulted.

Police said Carmelo Gonzalez is not considered a suspect in this case because his alibi checks out.

Investigators are combing through physical and digital evidence to find out who's responsible for Maria's death. Police said there was no forced entry into the home and nothing was stolen.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

'My Poor Daughter': Texas Dad Recounts Heartbreak of Finding Girl Dead After Frantically Trying to Reach Her

Maria Gonzalez, 11, was found dead underneath her own bed last weekend and is believed to have been killed while her father was at work

people.com

'My Poor Daughter': Texas Dad Recounts Heartbreak of Finding Girl Dead After Frantically Trying to Reach Her​

The father of an 11-year-old girl who was beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled to death inside her family’s home last weekend is mourning his daughter’s death.

“They left her under the bed in a plastic bag,” Carmelo Gonzalez, who was at work at the time of his daughter’s killing, told local Fox 26 News this week. “They left my poor daughter.”

Pasadena Police Chief Josh Brugger said at a news conference Tuesday that Gonzalez, 32, is not a suspect in his daughter Maria Gonzalez’s death, and that he was frantically trying to check in on Maria after she texted him saying there was someone knocking repeatedly at the front door.

Maria’s aunt – Gonzalez’s sister-in-law – went over to check on Maria and found the apartment door unlocked. When she entered, Chief Brugger told reporters the woman thought things were out of place and quickly backed out of the apartment, hurrying to get her husband, Gonzalez’s brother, to come check the unit with her.

The aunt and uncle could not find Maria, however, prompting Gonzalez to rush home from work. “He immediately went home,” the police chief said.

Gonzalez soon found his daughter’s body under the bed, Chief Brugger said.

Police do not currently have a suspect and have asked neighbors to come forward if they saw anything suspicious that morning.

 

[GrandmaBear]

She was ELEVEN. The kinds of sick and disgusting people we have in this nation or world any longer is beyond me.

All I can figure is this is what happens when people are raised without any morals, belief system, rules, compassion, consequences or maybe anything for a role model. I think also people are getting almost immune to stories of murder and rape and rape of children and that is downright scary to me. Or of murderers released and so forth. Oh, just another one. Just another day. What can we do about it. Oh well. It's awful but it didn't happen in my bubble/world.

 

[GrandmaBear]

And I'll guarantee you if someone was pounding on an apartment door insistently, it isn't anyone very bright. Imo. If this is an apartment complex. IF I hear something like that and I think most I look out my peephole to see who is pounding and to be sure nothing is wrong and that it's not going to be at my door next.

I suspect we are talking some illegals here which I do not agree with whatsoever but that does not mean I think what happened here should be ignored or is less than horribly tragic because of that. However maybe that very fact played in, that someone thought they could get away with something and that she or dad wouldn't call the cops or some such. Maybe not, just a guess.

Insistent knocking to me sounds like someone trying to come across like an authority figure to get her to open the door or someone they know acting like they'd expect her to open the door to them. I guess it says knocking repeatedly not insistently but still same impression. Dad told he not to open it so one would think she didn't and then what, the broke in? Not that I expect an evil POS to make sense but why would you knock in the first place and possibly call attention to yourself in the complex, etc.?

Clearly someone knew she was home and knew she was home alone. I guess if we want to get more far fetched but probably not that much so in this day and age, someone could have been looking for dad and he got out of there as he knew it and when they came knocking maybe to make him pay up for something they found her home alone.

Seriously who would have known she was home alone, a girl, and her father gone? I guess someone watching. Relatives they shared that info with maybe. Hopefully he didn't share it with neighbors, the maintenance guy, landlord, etc. I guess she could have shared something online naively. She did the right thing and notified dad who said not to answer the door and this still happened!

Did he and her move here and the others are elsewhere or in Guatemala or is he like a widowed father with one child? I know there is no answer and I do not ask to throw shade on him, I ask because he maybe came here to work and send money home or some such but why was she with? Unless they are the entire family unit. He did clearly have relatives in the complex who likely knew where he was at and that she was alone.

I would think and suspect they'd have an arrest in this in short order. It is despicable and evil what was done to this child. Why I wonder did she not stay with the aunt and uncle or go to them or call them? I guess at eleven perhaps she and he thought it wouldn't be a big deal for her to stay alone or the relatives couldn't help out.

All just wondering. Rape and murder of children. Every single day it seems. it is HORRENDOUS and so many I don't think even realize or notice it. News sure doesn't cover them all or hardly any these days for that matter.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I didn't see anything that said "pounding" or "insistent knocking" on the door. Just that someone had knocked on the door.

This sounds like someone who had been watching her and knew she was home alone. The door was unlocked. So I do wonder if she did actually answer the door, or perhaps she forgot to lock it behind her to begin with. Another possibility is someone with a key, like maintenance.

Did he and her move here and the others are elsewhere or in Guatemala or is he like a widowed father with one child? I know there is no answer and I do not ask to throw shade on him, I ask because he maybe came here to work and send money home or some such but why was she with? Unless they are the entire family unit. He did clearly have relatives in the complex who likely knew where he was at and that she was alone.

Her mom and little sister are still in Guatemala.

Police searching for suspect who killed 11-year-old girl, left body in her Texas home

Police in the Houston suburb of Pasadena said Maria Gonzalez had been home alone at around 10 a.m. on Saturday when someone knocked at her front door.

www.cbsnews.com

Maria Gonzalez and her father had been living in the U.S. for about four years after immigrating from Guatemala. They had been living in the apartment for about three months, Bruegger said. They had previously lived in Austin and in Florida. The girl's mother and 7-year-old sister live in Guatemala.

Their apartment complex has a large Guatemalan population and because some are in the U.S. without legal permission, they have been reluctant to cooperate with police, Bruegger said.

"I'm here to tell you right now, immigration status on the case, it's neither here nor there. The important thing right now is solving this case and getting the community safe," Bruegger said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I didn't see anything that said "pounding" or "insistent knocking" on the door. Just that someone had knocked on the door.

This sounds like someone who had been watching her and knew she was home alone. The door was unlocked. So I do wonder if she did actually answer the door, or perhaps she forgot to lock it behind her to begin with. Another possibility is someone with a key, like maintenance.

Her mom and little sister are still in Guatemala.

Police searching for suspect who killed 11-year-old girl, left body in her Texas home

Police in the Houston suburb of Pasadena said Maria Gonzalez had been home alone at around 10 a.m. on Saturday when someone knocked at her front door.

www.cbsnews.com

Maria Gonzalez and her father had been living in the U.S. for about four years after immigrating from Guatemala. They had been living in the apartment for about three months, Bruegger said. They had previously lived in Austin and in Florida. The girl's mother and 7-year-old sister live in Guatemala.

Their apartment complex has a large Guatemalan population and because some are in the U.S. without legal permission, they have been reluctant to cooperate with police, Bruegger said.

"I'm here to tell you right now, immigration status on the case, it's neither here nor there. The important thing right now is solving this case and getting the community safe," Bruegger said.

When I was writing that I looked back and I think it said "repeatedly knocking".

I agree with them that is neither here nor there whether there are illegals or not but it does play into people not coming forward. I think that plays/played into Dulce Alvarez's case too.

It does play in or could as far as who did this though. And finding them if not a legal record of them, etc.

So mom and a sister are in Guatemala and he and Maria have been here for four years so she was seven then. He must have at that age one would think someone who watched her for him. Not saying that plays in, I am just trying to put thoughts together. They have been in Austin I take to mean Texas, Florida and now ere back in Texas in Pasadena. And had been there three months.

I agree with you that it certainly could have been someone watching or stalking but I also think there is a lot we don't know and I'd hope to see answers to. So there were relatives in this building yet they'd been in Florida previously.

The aunt didn't find her and did not take the uncle along but went and got him as things seemed odd or out of place and they both went back and neither though found her, her dad did.

I don't know if you had the same unpleasant thought I did but you don't fit an eleven year old girl and a laundry basket under most beds. The bed would almost have to be a platform bed or bunk or something and if that raised up, I am unsure how someone would miss that. And I don't know if we are talking a one bedroom, two bedroom or what for an apartment but as many of us know, they aren't huge generally as to finding someone or anything.

I have a very slight lean here, very slight but don't have enough reason for it so I'll not go there for now.

I do think as you said maintenance, etc. could be and should be looked at.

I didn't realize the door was unlocked, etc.

The one article though did say repeated knocking I think is what she told her dad.

I truly would guess this case won't take long at all and they probably already have a pretty good focus. Just a guess.

I'm not judging it but still find it a bit odd he was here with one child and mom in Guatemala with another. And she'd have been pretty young when they came. Why? Why one and not the other? Not a judgment, just is unusual imo. And in a foreign country where he'd have no where to turn one would think for support to care for her, etc. Although in this complex there were relatives, not sure about Florida, etc. prior.

I in no way mean to slight him, he sounds devastated. Just trying to figure it all out.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

WANTED: Pasadena police identify person of interest in murder of 11-year-old girl

A significant lead has emerged during the investigation and authorities have identified 18-year-old Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez as a person of interest in the case.

www.fox26houston.com

Pasadena crime: 11-year-old Maria Gonzalez murdered, person of interest identified​

Authorities now have a person of interest in the death of 11-year-old Maria Gonzalez.

All employees of the apartment complex, including the maintenance staff, have fully cooperated with law enforcement's ongoing investigation. Presently, no indications suggest their involvement in the tragic incident.

A significant lead has emerged during the investigation and authorities have identified 18-year-old Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez as a person of interest in the case.

During the processing of the crime scene, investigators discovered a single key within the apartment. This key was subsequently collected as evidence and subjected to scrutiny by crime scene experts. Regrettably, the key did not unlock any doors within the victim's residence.

No arrests have been made thus far.

The individual in question, Garcia-Rodriguez, was residing within the same apartment complex as the victim; however, he is no longer on the premises.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

 

[GrandmaBear]

So did they have a press conference?

This is horrible. I can only hope this isn't one of the relatives but that doesn't mean it makes it any better, just would be even harder on the father is all.

I'd wondered why she was home alone if an aunt and uncle lived there. I guess with school out and such maybe she slept in while dad went to work and she knew she had relatives there if she needed anything but since they could respond quicker, I can only wonder if they'd have interrupted him, etc. When they did go look for her I wonder how long after ti had been or if he had her hid or some such or just did not look under the bed.

The guy would seem to have known she was home and home alone or maybe saw dad leave.

A minor thing but fitting a tote with a body in it under most beds wouldn't be easy or even possible so it would almost seem the bed was higher or raised up which then makes me think she'd be even harder to miss though. Does that strike anyone else? I'm not saying it means anything, just that I can't quite understand it. Was there blood or a trail, I mean I really don't want to think on it but it just seems odd they didn't find her until dad did. Maybe they just didn't want to be in the place, etc. or were worried about cops IF illegals, etc.

An 18 year old killing an 11 year old, wth is wrong with people?? Do we know if there was SA, I'd imagine that would be the reason, what other reason could he possibly have?

I haven't been able to look at much but wonder about the apartment complex. If it houses a lot of illegals, and isn't one that dots the I and crosses the T then illegals that aren't hard working and are criminals or even legal criminals may also be housed there if no background checks, paperwork, etc.

This guy is probably in Mexico right now or trying to get there. And even though young, I'm going to guess it wasn't his first crime. Seemed pretty darned bold honsestly knocking on the door, if a typical complex someone was apt to look out their peephole as you can't always be sure whose door is being knocked on or people do it just to be sure the knocker isn't some salesperson, cop, etc. likely to come to their door next. Just a guess.

Absolutely tragic. Can only wonder if she opened the door although dad told her not to but did she see that message, I can't recall? Did he break in and if so, did no one else hear him doing so?? Did she have another door to run to like a balcony, etc.? The key was interesting but sounded like it did not unlock the door.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Haven't watched it yet but he has the presser on here. He is generally pretty good. He also mentioned Breasia's case. I thought she was in a tote, this says trash bag. I hate these kind of details, they are so enraging and sad but they are facts I guess.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

18-year-old arrested after confessing to Pasadena 11-year-old's murder, sexual assault sources say

Police said an 18-year-old suspect was arrested in Louisiana and charged with capital murder a week after an 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and killed in Pasadena.

abc13.com

According to Bruegger, a key left at the scene that didn't open to the girl's unit, where she was left for dead, was located when investigators swept through last Saturday.

Police used that key to try and match it with doors to other units at the Main Village Apartments at 1004 Main Street. While Bruegger didn't immediately explain how Garcia-Rodriguez was tied to the key, he said it opened to a unit where the person of interest was staying, which is also where two other people resided.

In addition, the image that Pasadena police produced hours before the chief's Friday afternoon news conference came from body-worn camera footage when investigators interviewed Garcia-Rodriguez shortly after the girl's body was found. The chief explained they talked with and obtained DNA samples from 10 neighbors and witnesses, including the person of interest, as part of their investigation. Garcia-Rodriguez was described as "evasive with investigators," Bruegger said.

Bruegger went on to explain that his investigators learned their person of interest had been living at the apartment complex for three to four weeks when the murder took place. Garcia-Rodriguez, who is from Guatemala, was staying with people who were known to other people he knew, or "friends of friends."

Garcia-Rodriguez was last seen at the apartment complex at about 4 p.m. the Monday after telling his roommates he was leaving to find work elsewhere, and since then, his whereabouts have not been known, Bruegger said.

When his roommates asked him to return his key, Bruegger said he told them he was "going to hang onto it," Bruegger added.

Bruegger said he was not considered a person of interest or under surveillance when he left town. Police did not realize the key found at the scene unlocked his unit until after his departure.

Bruegger said the department has asked to be notified if Garcia-Rodriguez crosses the border. However, as of Friday afternoon, there was nothing the department can do to stop him from leaving the country. They do not have a warrant for his arrest. Bruegger feels there is not currently enough evidence for them to obtain one.

As it stands Friday, investigators are waiting for DNA results to get back to them regarding the key and whether it matches Garcia-Rodriguez's DNA.

Police couldn't say whether the Garcia-Rodriguez and the victim knew each other, but the chief added they lived in close proximity.


"We want to hold some stuff back for investigative reasons," he said, explaining the news conference was scheduled to clear things up.

Strikingly, one of those things was elaboration of how Maria was found. Bruegger confirmed the child's body was stuffed in a trash bag that was placed inside a clothes hamper, which was put under a bed.

 

[GrandmaBear]

18-year-old arrested after confessing to Pasadena 11-year-old's murder, sexual assault sources say

Police said an 18-year-old suspect was arrested in Louisiana and charged with capital murder a week after an 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and killed in Pasadena.

abc13.com

According to Bruegger, a key left at the scene that didn't open to the girl's unit, where she was left for dead, was located when investigators swept through last Saturday.

Police used that key to try and match it with doors to other units at the Main Village Apartments at 1004 Main Street. While Bruegger didn't immediately explain how Garcia-Rodriguez was tied to the key, he said it opened to a unit where the person of interest was staying, which is also where two other people resided.

In addition, the image that Pasadena police produced hours before the chief's Friday afternoon news conference came from body-worn camera footage when investigators interviewed Garcia-Rodriguez shortly after the girl's body was found. The chief explained they talked with and obtained DNA samples from 10 neighbors and witnesses, including the person of interest, as part of their investigation. Garcia-Rodriguez was described as "evasive with investigators," Bruegger said.

Bruegger went on to explain that his investigators learned their person of interest had been living at the apartment complex for three to four weeks when the murder took place. Garcia-Rodriguez, who is from Guatemala, was staying with people who were known to other people he knew, or "friends of friends."

Garcia-Rodriguez was last seen at the apartment complex at about 4 p.m. the Monday after telling his roommates he was leaving to find work elsewhere, and since then, his whereabouts have not been known, Bruegger said.

When his roommates asked him to return his key, Bruegger said he told them he was "going to hang onto it," Bruegger added.

Bruegger said he was not considered a person of interest or under surveillance when he left town. Police did not realize the key found at the scene unlocked his unit until after his departure.

Bruegger said the department has asked to be notified if Garcia-Rodriguez crosses the border. However, as of Friday afternoon, there was nothing the department can do to stop him from leaving the country. They do not have a warrant for his arrest. Bruegger feels there is not currently enough evidence for them to obtain one.

As it stands Friday, investigators are waiting for DNA results to get back to them regarding the key and whether it matches Garcia-Rodriguez's DNA.

Police couldn't say whether the Garcia-Rodriguez and the victim knew each other, but the chief added they lived in close proximity.


"We want to hold some stuff back for investigative reasons," he said, explaining the news conference was scheduled to clear things up.

Strikingly, one of those things was elaboration of how Maria was found. Bruegger confirmed the child's body was stuffed in a trash bag that was placed inside a clothes hamper, which was put under a bed.

It went from tote to garbage bag to now garbage bag in a clothes hamper.

They can't STOP him from crossing the border???

Why the HE77 NOT? IF he is an illegal there is a reason right THERE. I guess that would depend on the current state of affairs in this country and how it is treated BUT last I knew the law would allow for that. Or should. Has the administration changed that?

I won't even start on Guatemala, Honduras, etc. Many people still think it is all Mexico. I know when I first became aware of how far it had gone or was being pushed/forced, etc.

That is neither here nor there though. And it all borders on politics.

BUT IF he is illegal, I don't care if they have enough for a warrant in the case, they SURE should be able to TRACK him and get info if he crosses the border! If they can't it shows you exactly what has been going on that shouldn't be.

Regardless, that's

 

[GrandmaBear]

The more I think on it the madder I get. Helpless with it? REALLY? I'd bet 99 percent he is an illegal. And if he is from Guatemala he is not a Mexican citizen EITHER although their rules on that differ. People need to get a clue as to who allows things and who does not. I'll leave it at that.

 

[GrandmaBear]

So watched Linda on Gilgo, had to get read for work again tomorrow, etc. now just starting the one I shared here and yes, she was strangled and sexually assaulted.

She is eleven for crying out loud. Where and how do these creeps come about and so many of them it seems nowadays. Of course this man does most likely come from another country. Not that we don't have enough of our own though, think Dinkins and Breasia.

Horrible. And then they kill them on top of it. Just use and discard like they never mattered except for their own one time purpose although I still have to wonder about Dinkins as in that case it would not have been the only time he was likely ever around the child.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Police guy is saying at this point dad's alibi checks out and at this point at least he is not a suspect.

Mel is wondering as am I how he got in, did he break in, etc.

 

[GrandmaBear]

They had lived there three months.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Maybe this presser is not the one that was to happen today as the police guy is saying at this time no suspect.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Suspect arrested in killing of 11-year-old Texas girl whose body was left under bed

Police say a man suspected of sexually assaulting and killing an 11-year-old girl before stashing her body under her bed in her family’s suburban Houston apartment has been arrested.

apnews.com

Suspect arrested in killing of 11-year-old Texas girl whose body was left under bed​

A man suspected of sexually assaulting and killing an 11-year-old girl before stashing her body under her bed in her family’s suburban Houston apartment has been arrested, police said Saturday.

The 18-year-old man was identified as a person of interest Friday. The Pasadena Police Department said in a statement Saturday that since then, investigators were able to obtain additional evidence linking him to the death of Maria Gonzalez, and they arrested him in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Police said the 18-year-old will be charged with capital murder and is awaiting extradition to Texas.


The Gonzales family released a statement thanking Pasadena and Louisiana police for arresting the suspect.

“May he be burdened with the full weight of the law, for what he has done to my daughter,” the statement said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I will never understand men like this. For one sexual and controlling and murderous act on a child, he throws her away like trash when done and what has he gained, again one act of rape on a child and then a long prison sentence. For WHAT??? No one can make this make sense to me.

This was so horrible. What a waste of a beautiful child. By an absolute evil scumbag.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Pasadena community comes together to mourn killed 11-year-old girl, continue calls for justice

"It's very difficult for them already. But having the community standing with them since day one has been amazing," said Pct. 2 Constable Jerry Garcia.

www.khou.com

Pasadena community comes together to mourn killed 11-year-old girl, continue calls for justice​

Family and community filled a Pasadena church Wednesday evening, grieving the loss of 11-year-old Maria Gonzalez. The girl was killed and sexually assaulted in her home while her father was at work.

Maria's father, Carmelo Gonzalez, thanked everyone for joining him in his sorrow and asked for prayers and the strength to live with the pain of losing his daughter.


Pasadena Mayor Jeff Wagner, church leaders and members of law enforcement stood by his side in support Wednesday evening.

"As you can imagine, it's very difficult for them already. But having the community standing with them since day one has been amazing," said Pct. 2 Constable Jerry Garcia.

An 18-year-old has been charged with capital murder in Maria's death. Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez was arrested in Louisiana on Saturday and was extradited back to Harris County on Wednesday.

Victim advocates call what he's accused of doing unimaginable.

"His daughter got an immediate death sentence from this individual," said April Aguirre, whose niece, 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez, became a victim of gun violence on Valentine's Day last year. "We could not imagine being in his situation and in his predicament, which is why the community has showed up."


He said his fight for justice is only the beginning for his princess.