Family members found a 21-year-old Texas college student dead in the trunk of her family car Tuesday night, and police arrested her boyfriend — who was at the scene consoling her family — for her murder..
Houston police arrested the woman’s 19-year-old boyfriend, Ariel Cruz, and charged him with murder, KTRK reported. Court documents say he shot her.
Family members identified the victim as Idania Campos.
Family members said Cruz had been at the family home over the weekend. They said police told them he confessed when he was taken in for questioning.
Cruz is being held on a $600,000 bond.
Houston police said the family reported that Campos dropped her sisters off at school, and they didn’t hear from her again, KHOU said. They reported her missing Tuesday morning and then tracked her phone to a residential street in the Meyerland area Tuesday evening, where they found the locked car, the woman’s phone and other belongings inside.
They called police, who came and looked around then left. The famly began knocking on doors in the neighborhood asking for information and eventually called a locksmith to open the car.
ARRESTED: Booking photo of Ariel Cruz, 19, now charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend found on Tuesday (November 28) evening.
More info at https://t.co/0KMzRILElr#HouNews #OneSafeHouston https://t.co/AN0bgm3W32 pic.twitter.com/mhTeuoScbb
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) November 29, 2023
The locksmith took some time to arrive, police said, so the family broke a window and made entry. When they opened the trunk, they found the 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.
Houston police investigators are now trying to figure out what happened.
Family members said Campos was a Lamar High School graduate attending Houston Community College.
Police provided no further information.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Idania Campos/handout and Ariel Cruz/Houston Police Department]