Natalie Ochoa, 31, was found beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted on December 16, 2011, in the 4100 block of River Drive in Houston. She was discovered barely alive in the early morning and died shortly after reaching hospital care. DNA was collected at the scene and initially produced no matches, and the investigation went cold.

In 2018 a DNA hit linked Joseph Richard Reyes, who had been entered into a law enforcement database during probation for an unrelated sexual offense, to evidence from Ochoa’s case; he was later arrested and indicted on capital murder charges. Reyes has denied involvement and said he did not know how his DNA would have been under Ochoa’s fingernails. The case record notes earlier investigative failings under Detective Ryan Chandler, who was dismissed for negligence and misconduct in several homicide investigations, and Ochoa’s family says her death was devalued because of her past struggles with substance abuse. Her family also says she had been trying to rebuild her life, pursuing training as a medical technician after an August or September 2011 release from jail.

If anyone knew Natalie or saw anything around River Drive the night of December 16, 2011, can you share what you remember?