On April 21, 2024, at about 1:15 p.m. Houston police found 52-year-old Rosenda Garcia unresponsive inside her vehicle in the 11900 block of 7th Street in the Alief area. She had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses said a man walked up to Garcia’s car, fired several shots into the vehicle, then fled in a white Jeep Renegade SUV with black wheels toward the 4200 block of Cook Road.

Investigators identified 50-year-old Jose Santiago Villatoro as the suspect and say he had been in a volatile three-year relationship with Garcia. Her son, Daniel Gonzalez, said Garcia had recently ended the relationship and asked Villatoro to move out; Gonzalez described Villatoro’s behavior during the relationship as jealous and erratic. Surveillance footage reviewed by Gonzalez reportedly shows Villatoro approach the vehicle, argue briefly, retrieve a firearm from his car and shoot Garcia multiple times through an open window. License plate readers tracked the Jeep to Wharton at 4:58 p.m. and to the Laredo border crossing at 11:54 p.m., and authorities believe he may have fled to Mexico.

No arrest has been confirmed and the family is appealing for information. If anyone knows Villatoro’s whereabouts or has relevant information, please contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.