Michelle Angela Morales-Nakaza, 32, was reported missing by her family on March 31, 2023, after losing contact for several days. She was last seen on March 27 at a Baskin-Robbins at 12379 Edgemere Boulevard in El Paso. Witnesses said she may have been picked up by a Hispanic male driving a white Toyota Camry; Morales-Nakaza did not own a vehicle.

On April 10 police found Morales-Nakaza’s body in the Red Sands area of El Paso County and the El Paso Police Department opened a murder investigation. Investigators identified her boyfriend, 34-year-old Christopher Paul Maya, as the primary suspect. Court documents say Maya told friends he and Morales-Nakaza were asleep in a car when he noticed his wallet was missing, accused her of taking it, fatally shot her multiple times and later disposed of her body in the desert. Witnesses described their relationship as toxic and reported Maya had expressed intentions to harm her.

Authorities arrested Maya on April 12 in a Walmart parking lot in northeast El Paso and charged him with murder. Morales-Nakaza is survived by three children: a son, Isiah Hernandez, and two daughters, Olivia and Makayla Hernandez. If anyone knew Michelle or has information about her last movements, please come forward.