11-year-old girl found dead under bed, US police can't find suspect

The Daily Mail reported on August 17 that Pasadena police (Texas) received a call from a man saying that his daughter was not breathing. Police quickly arrived at 1004 Main Street at around 3 p.m. on August 12 (local time).

Medical personnel pronounced Maria Gonzalez dead at the scene. Police said her father, Carmelo Gonzalez, 32, found her under the bed after returning from work. She had been sexually assaulted and killed.

Carmelo Gonzalez holds a photo of his daughter. Photo: KTRK

Carmelo left for work around 10 a.m. on August 12 and contacted his daughter by phone. Shortly after leaving, his daughter texted Carmelo to say someone was knocking at the door.

“I told my daughter not to open the door because I was at work,” Carmelo said. “She replied that she was in bed.” That was the last time the father heard from his daughter.

On August 15, Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger revealed that Carmelo then called relatives who lived in the same apartment complex to check on his daughter. However, they could not find her. Relatives said that when they arrived, the door was unlocked.

When he got home, Mr. Carmelo began searching for his daughter. He found her under his bed, in a laundry basket.

Authorities said Maria's cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head and neck. Further investigation determined that Maria had been sexually assaulted. However, authorities said they found no signs of forced entry into the home and no suspects were identified.

The building where the incident occurred. Photo: Fox News

“The father’s alibi has been checked out, so at this point he is not considered a suspect,” said Chief Bruegger, noting that the father and daughter had lived at the property for about three months. The girl’s mother now lives in Guatemala.

At present, no suspects have been identified and local police are asking for the public's assistance in the investigation.

"Anyone who saw anything shortly after 10 a.m. on August 12 at the apartment where the murder occurred is asked to come forward," Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger said.

Police took DNA samples from some of the residents of the building. Police added that the residents were undocumented migrants, so some were hesitant to talk to police.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su-quoc-te/co-be-11-tuoi-chet-duoi-gam-giuong-canh-sat-my-tim-khong-ra-nghi-pham-20230817160908421.htm