Michael Louis Espinosa, 42, of Mathis, Texas, was shot and killed on December 22, 2021, while seated in his Camaro on South Perez Street. Reports say Enrique Ayala Hernandez, 29, shot Espinosa, then moved the body into the driver’s seat and drove the car to a wooded area near County Road 362 in Jim Wells County. Witnesses saw Hernandez leaving the scene; he was later detained that night on a parole violation.

Deputies responding to a separate call about someone trying to push a car into the Nueces River found Espinosa’s abandoned vehicle at the water’s edge; rough terrain prevented the car from being pushed further and Espinosa’s body was recovered inside. Hernandez was charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and tampering with a corpse, with bond set at $650,000. The San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers were among the agencies involved.

Espinosa is survived by his father, Louis Espinosa, his daughter Miranda Michelle Espinosa, and other relatives and friends. Does anyone have information about the events that night or witnessed activity around South Perez Street or County Road 362?