Man convinces ex to leave women’s shelter, Texas cops say. Her body is found in bayou
A 30-year-old woman’s body was found “in a late stage of decomposition,” lying face down in bayou near a walking path, Texas police said.
Ana Clelia Melendez Delarocha had a stab wound in the middle of her chest when she was found Aug. 17, according to Houston police. Now, police are searching for her ex-boyfriend, according to an Aug. 27 news release.
Oscar Daniel Vega Espinoza, 34, was charged with murder and tampering with evidence Aug. 23, according to police.
Delarocha told officials she had been staying at a women’s shelter because her partner, Vega Espinoza, was abusive, according to a probable cause statement. Her roommate told shelter staff that Delarocha left to pick up money and a vacuum cleaner from the man, the statement said.
Security footage showed the woman leaving the shelter the evening of Aug. 15 and walking across the street to a FedEx, police said. She got into a car with Vega Espinoza, and the car left the parking lot, the complaint said.
The shelter called police two days later to say Delarocha never returned but left her purse, money and vehicle at the shelter, according to court documents.
The woman was wearing the same clothes when her body was found two days later, according to court documents.
During an investigation, police uncovered recent reports of domestic violence, according to the probable cause statement.
On June 2, Vega Espinoza had threatened to kill Delarocha and her children who lived in Nicaragua, police said. He blocked her vehicle as she was trying to escape, got in the car and started to choke her, according to the documents.
The man stopped, according to police, because he saw a person nearby. He then fled the scene.
Anyone with information about the man is asked to call HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
This story was originally published August 28, 2024 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Man convinces ex to leave women’s shelter, Texas cops say. Her body is found in bayou."
