A 20-year-old lady who had been lacking for greater than per week in western Texas was discovered useless Saturday, and a person has been arrested in connection together with her killing, police mentioned.
Madeline Pantoja was reported lacking on Might 11, vanishing together with her cellphone and automobile nonetheless at her residence in Midland, in response to the Midland Police Division. Her disappearance kick-started a dayslong search that concerned a number of regulation enforcement companies.
Her stays have been present in a rural space southeast of the town limits 9 days after she was reported lacking, police introduced Saturday.
Hours after the invention, 24-year-old Mario Juan Chacon, Jr. was arrested on suspicion of homicide in Pantoja’s dying on Saturday afternoon, in response to Midland Police.
Mario Juan Chacon, Jr. is seen in a reserving photograph. – Midland County Sheriff’s Workplace
He’s being held with out bond as of Saturday night time on the Midland County Jail, police mentioned. CNN is working to find out if Chacon has an lawyer.
Few particulars have been made accessible by authorities Saturday, together with what led police to suspect Chacon within the lady’s dying or whether or not he knew the sufferer beforehand.
The investigation into Pantoja’s dying is ongoing and an post-mortem shall be carried out in Dallas, Midland Police mentioned.
The seek for Pantoja had been working “on a 24-hour foundation” over the previous week, Midland Police Chief Seth Herman mentioned in a press convention Friday, with the FBI, the Texas Rangers, the Division of Homeland Safety and the Midland County Sheriff’s Workplace becoming a member of the investigation.
Air and floor crews racing to seek out the younger lady had searched about 60 sq. miles of distant property, Herman mentioned.
Over a dozen search warrants have been additionally issued and greater than 25 folks have been interviewed as investigators looked for Pantoja, the chief added.
Earlier than Pantoja was discovered useless, Midland Mayor Lori Blong introduced Friday a $20,000 reward for data that may result in her whereabouts.
“I can not think about the stress and the priority and fear of Madeline’s household and associates as they’ve gone by means of this ordeal,” the mayor mentioned throughout Friday’s information convention. Police didn’t say Saturday whether or not that reward is being claimed.
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