HOUSTON — The man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and hiding her body in the trunk of her car faced a judge Monday morning.
Shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit, 19-year-old Ariel Cruz made his first official court appearance. He is charged with murder in the death of 21-year-old Idania Maria Campos Muñoz, a Lamar High School graduate who was attending Houston Community College.
Cruz’s attorney argued that his $500,000 bond was too high and asked for it to be lowered. However, the judge denied that request.
All of this happened as more than a dozen members of the victim’s family sat in the courtroom for Cruz's first official court appearance.
Prosecutors said last week Cruz confessed to shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend because she broke up with him. Her body was later found in the trunk of her car by her own family in Meyerland after they shattered a window to get inside.
In court on Monday, new details were revealed, including how Cruz allegedly admitted to investigators he shot Muñoz in her head and that police later found what appeared to be the murder weapon in his bedroom.
Investigators believe the shooting happened at the Meyerland Complex Plaza, and prosecutors said there's surveillance video of the two together before the shooting.
Cruz's attorney, Casey Little Gonzalez, said, “False confessions are made all the time." She also mentioned no testing has been done on the weapon that was found.
"My heart goes out to the Campos family. What they're experiencing is unimaginable, but at this time my client is being charged with murder and it's only an allegation," she said.
More than a dozen members of Munoz's family showed up to court Monday morning. They didn't want to talk, but one of her sisters briefly stopped and said she hopes Cruz spends the rest of his life in prison.
We lewarned in court that Cruz is from Houston and lives at home with his parents and younger siblings.
If he makes bond, part of his bond conditions include no contact with the victim’s family and being placed on 24-hour house arrest.
Resources for victims of domestic or family violence
Domestic and family violence cases in the Houston area have increased at an alarming rate. Victims often suffer in silence because they feel scared, helpless or ashamed.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, here are some discreet ways to reach out for help.
The Houston Area Women’s Center has a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence at 713-528-2121 or 1-800-256-0551.
The Family Time Crisis Center can also be reached 24 hours a day at 281-446-2615.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Crisis Text Line: Text START to 88788.