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 stated.
Madeline Pantoja was reported lacking on Could 11, vanishing together with her cellphone and automotive nonetheless at her residence in Midland, in line with the Midland Police Division. Her disappearance kick-started a dayslong search that concerned a number of regulation enforcement businesses.
Her stays had 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 loss of life on Saturday afternoon, in line with 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 stated. CNN is working to find out if Chacon has an lawyer.
Few particulars had been made accessible by authorities Saturday, together with what led police to suspect Chacon within the lady’s loss of life or whether or not he knew the sufferer beforehand.
The investigation into Pantoja’s loss of life is ongoing and an post-mortem shall be carried out in Dallas, Midland Police stated.
The seek for Pantoja had been working “on a 24-hour foundation” over the previous week, Midland Police Chief Seth Herman stated 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 search out the younger lady had searched about 60 sq. miles of distant property, Herman stated.
Over a dozen search warrants had been additionally issued and greater than 25 individuals had 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 info that will result in her whereabouts.
“I can’t think about the stress and the priority and fear of Madeline’s household and pals as they’ve gone by this ordeal,” the mayor stated throughout Friday’s information convention. Police didn’t say Saturday whether or not that reward is being claimed.
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