Houston Man Arrested in 2018 Woman’s Disappearance and Death

Erik Fardell Arceneaux, 51, who faced murder charges in connection with the disappearance and death of Maria Rodriguez in June 2018, has been taken into custody.

The charges against Arceneaux were filed in the 178th State District Court in 2019, related to the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Maria Rodriguez, aged 29 at the time.

HPD Homicide Division Detectives G. Sullivan and M. Condon provided the following information:

Maria Rodriguez was reported missing by her family after she was last seen on June 21, 2018. Subsequent investigations pointed to her boyfriend, Erik Fardell Arceneaux, as the suspect responsible for her disappearance and death. Arceneaux was charged in August 2019.

To date, Maria Rodriguez’s remains have not been found.

On Thursday, September 14, members of the U.S. Marshals’ Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force apprehended Erik Fardell Arceneaux outside a business located in the 9500 block of Rowlett Road near the Gulf Freeway (South Interstate Highway 45). He was subsequently transported and booked into the Harris County Jail.

Anyone possessing additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.