Southwest Houston Woman Found Dead in Car Trunk, 19-year-old Boyfriend Confesses to Murder

In the early hours of November 28, the family of a 21-year-old woman discovered she had not reached her destination at school. They located her black Honda Civic parked on the 5400 block of Indigo Street in Southwest Houston. After an unsuccessful search in the neighborhood, concerned family members contacted the Houston Police to report her missing.

Around 5:40 p.m., a family member forcibly entered the locked vehicle and opened the trunk, where they found the young woman unresponsive. Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene and pronounced her deceased, noting signs of trauma to her face.

Upon further investigation, authorities identified a suspect as 19-year-old Ariel Cruz, who had been present during the family’s search for the victim. Cruz was detained and interviewed by homicide detectives, during which he confessed to his role in his girlfriend’s death. Subsequently, he was charged with murder.