Person of interest identified in death of 11-year-old girl found under her bed in Texas

Police in Texas identified a person of interest in the investigation of an 11-year-old girl who was found strangled in her home.

Pasadena Police Chief Josh Bruegger said Friday that Juan Carlo Garcia-Rodriguez, 18, was the person of interest in Maria Gonzalez’s killing and released a photo of him. No arrests have been made in the case.

Garcia-Rodriguez lived in the same apartment building as the victim, but he's gone now. In a news conference, Bruegger explained that a key found in the victim's apartment was really important evidence.

“Investigators after processing the key found out it did not fit the victim’s apartment,” the police chief said. “So, they started checking other apartments and found another apartment that it opened in the apartment complex.”

Police mentioned that Maria's body was discovered in a plastic trash bag, placed in a laundry basket under a bed at her house. After examining her body, they found out that she had been sexually assaulted and had also been hurt on her head and neck.

On Saturday, the police were called to the apartment where Maria was found dead. Based on what the police said before, Maria's dad had gone to work that day and left her by herself at home.

She sent him a message soon after he left, saying someone was knocking at the door. He told her not to answer the door, and after the brief exchange did not hear from her again.

He tried to call later but could not reach her, so he asked family members to check on her. They went to the apartment but did not find anything.

Her father discovered her body once he returned home.

Police said Maria and her father are from Guatemala and had moved into the apartment three months ago. The girl’s mother is still in Guatemala.
According to KHOU, Maria's dad said she was a good and quiet girl. She had recently celebrated her 11th birthday, just a few weeks before her death.

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