HOUSTON, TX - Tragedy struck a Texas family after discovering the body of their 21-year-old daughter in the trunk of her car. Houston Police announced that a 19-year-old man has been taken into custody regarding the murder of the young woman.
The suspect, Ariel Cruz, is the boyfriend of the victim.
The victim, Idania Campos, discovered with gunshot wounds. She was last seen on Tuesday around 7:00 a.m. and her mom had spoken to her at approximately 8:20 that same morning, according to Houston Police Lieutenant Alisa Smith.
After Campos had been reported missing, a friend of hers, using a tracking on her phone, located her car parked on Indigo Street.
Campos' family members of the victim arrived at the scene to find the car, but they did not bother to check out the vehicle itself. The boyfriend was also at the scene when they searched for her.
The police arrived to take the missing person's report, but the car itself was still not opened.
At some point, a decision was made by the father to break into the car through a window, and the trunk was eventually opened. It was at this time that they found the young woman's body.
According to authorities, Cruz told police that he was responsible for the young woman's death. It was then taken into custody and charged with murder.
Family members told ABC 13 that Cruz spent a good part of the day Tuesday with them acting as if he didn't know anything. Apparently, Cruz tried to console family members in his charade.
Cruz was described as being very close to Campos and the family. He'd been around the family house much of the weekend despite them having broken up.
Later, at the bond motion for Cruz, he stated that he killed Campos because he blamed her for their break up.
An aunt in the Campos family said about Cruz, “ So I guess because he couldn't have her, he didn't want us to have her either.”
The suspect was taken in for questioning, where investigators told the family that Cruz confessed to the death of his girlfriend. At that point, was charged with the crime of murder.
Bond for the young man was set at $600,000. Early in the morning Wednesday, Cruz was booked into Harris County Jail.
Authorities are asking that anyone who lives along Indigo Street check their security cameras for any images captured between 8:20 a.m. and 1:40 p.m. Tuesday.
"Of course, if the family thought she was in the car, of course, they would have made forced entry, but at this point, they just thought it was left there. Nobody at that point thought she was inside the trunk,” Lt. Smith said of not checking the vehicle.
The suspect, Ariel Cruz, is the boyfriend of the victim.
The victim, Idania Campos, discovered with gunshot wounds. She was last seen on Tuesday around 7:00 a.m. and her mom had spoken to her at approximately 8:20 that same morning, according to Houston Police Lieutenant Alisa Smith.
After Campos had been reported missing, a friend of hers, using a tracking on her phone, located her car parked on Indigo Street.
Campos' family members of the victim arrived at the scene to find the car, but they did not bother to check out the vehicle itself. The boyfriend was also at the scene when they searched for her.
The police arrived to take the missing person's report, but the car itself was still not opened.
At some point, a decision was made by the father to break into the car through a window, and the trunk was eventually opened. It was at this time that they found the young woman's body.
According to authorities, Cruz told police that he was responsible for the young woman's death. It was then taken into custody and charged with murder.
Family members told ABC 13 that Cruz spent a good part of the day Tuesday with them acting as if he didn't know anything. Apparently, Cruz tried to console family members in his charade.
Cruz was described as being very close to Campos and the family. He'd been around the family house much of the weekend despite them having broken up.
Later, at the bond motion for Cruz, he stated that he killed Campos because he blamed her for their break up.
An aunt in the Campos family said about Cruz, “ So I guess because he couldn't have her, he didn't want us to have her either.”
The suspect was taken in for questioning, where investigators told the family that Cruz confessed to the death of his girlfriend. At that point, was charged with the crime of murder.
Bond for the young man was set at $600,000. Early in the morning Wednesday, Cruz was booked into Harris County Jail.
Authorities are asking that anyone who lives along Indigo Street check their security cameras for any images captured between 8:20 a.m. and 1:40 p.m. Tuesday.
"Of course, if the family thought she was in the car, of course, they would have made forced entry, but at this point, they just thought it was left there. Nobody at that point thought she was inside the trunk,” Lt. Smith said of not checking the vehicle.
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