Global Courant 2023-05-21 09:57:01
A 20-year-old woman who had been missing in western Texas for more than a week was found dead on Saturday and a man was arrested in connection with her murder, police said.
Madeline Pantoja was reported missing on May 11 and disappeared with her phone and car still at her home in Midland, according to the Midland police. Her disappearance sparked a multi-day search involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Her remains were found in a rural area southeast of the city limits nine days after she was reported missing, police announced Saturday.
Hours after the discovery, 24-year-old Mario Juan Chacon, Jr. arrested on suspicion of murder in Pantoja’s death on Saturday afternoon, Midland police said.
Mario Juan Chacon, Jr. can be seen on a booking photo. – The Midland County Sheriff’s Office
He will be held without bail at the Midland County Jail starting Saturday night, police said. CNN is investigating whether Chacon has a lawyer.
Authorities released few details on Saturday, including what led police to suspect Chacon in the woman’s death and whether he knew the victim before.
The investigation into Pantoja’s death is ongoing and an autopsy will be performed in Dallas, the Midland Police Department said.
The search for Pantoja has been going on “24 hours a day” for the past week, Midland Police Chief Seth Herman said Friday at a news conference with the FBI, Texas Rangers, Department of Homeland Security and Midland County Sheriffs. Office joins the investigation.
Air and ground crews raced to find the young woman had searched about 60 square miles of remote property, Herman said.
More than a dozen search warrants were also issued and more than 25 people were interviewed as investigators searched for Pantoja, the chief added.
Before Pantoja was found dead, Midland Mayor Lori Blong announced Friday a $20,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts.
“I cannot imagine the stress, anxiety and anxieties of Madeline’s family and friends during this ordeal,” the mayor said at Friday’s press conference. Police did not say on Saturday whether that reward will be claimed.
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