Woman, 28, accused of involvement in Corpus Christi man's murder
Alexandria RodriguezU.S. Marshals arrested a 28-year-old woman believed to be involved in the murder of a Corpus Christi man, whose body was dumped in a creek near Portland.
Belynda Nadine Pena Garcia was arrested in Corpus Christi on suspicion of aggravated robbery, San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera said.
Authorities found her in a home in the 900 block of Retama Avenue on the city's northside, Rivera said.
"We received information in our investigation that she might be at that location," said Al Lujan, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal. "We conducted surveillance. Made contact at the door and when the door opened, we visually saw her inside the home."
Pena Garcia is accused of being involved in a home invasion in Ingleside, the post states.
The arrest stemmed from a "shots fired" incident in the 2400 block of Greenbriar Drive on May 13, Ingleside Police Department said in a Facebook post.
Ingleside police officials referred calls about the arrest to the San Patricio County Sheriff's Office.
"Investigators believe Pena-Garcia and others are directly involved with the body located in the creek along County Road 2004 near Portland," the sheriff's office post continued.
San Patricio County Sheriff's Office deputies found the body of Alfredo Vasquez, 27, floating in a creek on May 14. Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office officials said Vasquez had a single gunshot wound, but did not specify where on his body that was found.
"Alfredo was a great person, brother and friend," Mathew Gutierrez, Vasquez's youngest brother, told the Caller-Times on Thursday. "He wasn't a bad person. He was really chill to hang around with a good personality."
Rivera said he believed Vasquez was dumped in the creek and suspected foul play.
The sheriff's office Criminal Investigation Division is processing digital and DNA evidence involving the murder, Rivera said in the Facebook post.
"More arrest (sic) are expected soon," Rivera said in the post.
Pena Garcia was taken to the San Patricio County Jail on Tuesday. She remained in custody Thursday on suspicion of two counts of manufacturing/delivery of a controlled substance penalty group 2 and aggravated robbery.
The drug-related charges stem from an undercover drug operation by the sheriff's office, Rivera said.
She also is being held on suspicion of crimes in Nueces County. Those are on suspicion of failure to appear - possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1, possession of marijuana and theft of property, jail records show.
Nueces County court records show Pena Garcia was granted bond in November 2018 for drug charges.
Pena Garcia's alleged involvement in Vasquez's murder wasn't immediately known early Thursday afternoon.
Anyone with information about Vasquez's killing should call San Patrico County Sheriff's Office at 361-364-9600. Anyone with information about the incident in Ingleside should call TriCounty Crime Stoppers at 361-758-8477.
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Alexandria Rodriguez covers breaking news and crime in South Texas. Consider supporting local journalism with a digital subscription to the Caller-Times.