Categories: U.S.

Louisiana police capture suspect in murder, assault of 11-year-old Texas girl

close Video

Texas father finds daughter, 11, strangled to death beneath bed

A Texas father came home from work on August 12 to find his 11-year-old daughter strangled to death beneath a bed.

Louisiana police have tracked down a Texas man accused of assaulting and murdering his 11-year-old neighbor, Maria Gonzalez.

Authorities in Shreveport, Louisiana, took Juan Carlos Garcia Rodriguez, 18, into custody Saturday after Harris County, Texas, officials charged him with capital murder in connection with the girl’s August 12 death.

Maria was home alone on August 12 when she texted her father, Carmelo Gonzalez, that morning saying that someone was knocking on their apartment door.

“I told her, ‘Don’t open the door, because I am arriving at work,’ and she responded, ‘I am in my bed,’” Gonzalez told FOX 26 Houston.

TEXAS GIRL, 11, FOUND MURDERED UNDER BED AFTER KNOCK ON DOOR WHILE SHE WAS HOME ALONE

A medical examiner determined that Maria Gonzalez died of strangulation by asphyxiation and had also been sexually assaulted by the unknown assailant, according to the Pasadena Police Department. (FOX 26 Houston)

Pasadena Police said that was the last communication that Gonzalez received from his daughter. When he arrived home later on, he found his daughter deceased and hidden underneath a bed in the apartment.

TEXAS MAN FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUALLY ABUSING, THREATENING CHILD FOR 5 YEARS, SENTENCED TO PRISON

Investigators arrived at the scene at the Main Village apartment complex on Main Street around 3 p.m. that Saturday and located Maria’s body stuffed into a plastic bag, followed by a laundry bag and placed into a laundry basket, which was hidden beneath a bed.

Pasadena authorities said in a press release that Juan Carlos Garcia Rodriguez, 18, “is a person of interest and was residing in the same apartment complex where the victim was found but has since left.” (Pasadena Police Department)

“Unfortunately, they left her under the bed in a plastic bag. They left my poor daughter,” Gonzalez told FOX 26.

TEXAS MAN ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTING TO KIDNAP VICTIM AT A TARGET STORE: POLICE

While investigating the crime scene, detectives found a single key that could not be used to open any of the doors in the apartment where Maria was found. The key did, however, open another door in the apartment complex. Investigators then interviewed Garcia Rodriguez.

Authorities told FOX 26 that many undocumented immigrants live in the city just east of Houston, so some residents are hesitant to speak with police, but their main priority is to find the suspect in Maria’s murder. (Google Maps)

The suspect was last seen in the apartment complex Monday around 4 p.m. and had not been seen since until police tracked him down in Louisiana on Saturday.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

A Pasadena Police Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital it did not have any other information to provide as of Saturday afternoon.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to contact Det. M. Quintanilla at 713-475-7803 or Det. S. Mata at 713-475-7878.

Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. Email tips to audrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants.

Share

Recent Posts

NYPD arrests migrant who allegedly set woman on fire on subway train, watched her burn to death

close Video Tyrus 'could not be prouder' of NYC mayor after meeting with incoming 'border…

3 minutes ago

Prankster arrested after reportedly filming himself spraying food at Walmart: ‘Reckless’

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for December 22 Fox News Flash top headlines…

2 hours ago

Woman dies after being set on fire while sleeping on NYC subway train: police

close Video Tyrus 'could not be prouder' of NYC mayor after meeting with incoming 'border…

2 hours ago

Fetterman: Those hoping Trump fails are ‘rooting against the nation’

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., says he hopes President-elect Trump is successful, and spoke out against…

5 hours ago

Sen. Rand Paul pledges to get Trump’s cabinet picks approved ‘as quickly as possible’

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., on Sunday said he "couldn’t be happier" with President-elect Trump’s Cabinet…

5 hours ago

GOP rep who hasn’t voted in months living in retirement facility: source

Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, has been living in a retirement facility, a source told Fox…

5 hours ago