HOUSTON — A man was arrested and charged with murder after a 21-year-old woman was found dead in the trunk of her own car in southwest Houston hours after family members reported her missing, according to police.
Her family has identified the victim as Idania Maria Campos Muñoz.
The Houston Police Department said the suspect, 19-year-old Ariel Cruz, was Idania's ex-boyfriend. Cruz admitted to his role in her death, according to HPD. According to court documents, Cruz shot and killed Idania because she broke up with him.
Police said he admitted to shooting her in a shopping center, putting her body in the trunk and then abandoning the car in the Meyerland area, not far from where he lives with his mother.
Investigators said Cruz even acted concerned as the family searched for Idania.
"He even hugged us and said 'I’m sorry' and 'Everything will be alright.' ... like if he knew already," Idania's sister, Jennifer Campos Muñoz, said.
Family members said Cruz visited their house as recently as last weekend. They think that Idania might have met up with him because they weren't necessarily enemies even though she no longer wanted to be with him.
Family members said Idania was a Lamar High School graduate who was attending Houston Community College. They said she was smart and funny and was always helpful.
According to HPD, family members reported Idania missing on Tuesday morning when she disappeared after dropping her sisters off at school.
"I saw her every morning because she took us to school and I didn’t know that was going to be the last time ... and I didn’t get to say ... I didn’t get to say goodbye to her and I just wish I could’ve told her and hugged her and said to her that I really loved her," one of Idania's five sisters, Alexandra Campos Muñoz, said.
On Tuesday evening, HPD said her body was found in the trunk of a car along Indigo Street, which is off Chimney Rock Road just south of Beechnut, in the Meyerland area.
How they found her
When family and friends started to worry about Idania, they tracked her phone to the location on Indigo. When they got there, they found the family's car, which was locked.
They called the police and officers showed up, looked around, and then left.
Family and friends started knocking on doors to find out if anyone had seen what happened. They said there was one big red flag: Idania left her phone and her belongings in the car.
After about two hours of knocking on doors and asking to go through surveillance video, they decided to call a locksmith to get inside the car.
The locksmith took a while, so they decided to break a window to get inside.
"The family called the locksmith and the locksmith came out and he couldn’t unlock the door so my brother-in-law took a hammer and busted the window and popped the trunk and that’s where we found her," Idania's aunt, Bobbie Muñoz, said.
When they opened the trunk, they found her body.
"It's very devastating for the family. They discovered the body in the trunk. It's a very devastating thing for them," HPD Lt. Larry Crowson said.
Family members said they would have never expected Cruz to do something like this but hope he faces appropriate justice.
Cruz's bond was set at $500,000.
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.