Texas Teen Arrested After Strangling 11-Year Old Girl and Hiding Her Body Under a Bed

Police in Pasadena, Texas have arrested an 18-year-old Texas teen after an 11-year-old girl was found dead under a bed. She was sexually assaulted and then strangled to death before her body was stuffed under the bed.

The Texas teen strangler was identified as Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez, whom authorities narrowed down on the day that the victim's body was found, which was on August 12. Pasadena police officers reportedly interviewed and collected DNA evidence from Garcia-Rodriguez after the victim, 11-year-old Maria Gonzalez, was found dead.

According to CBS News, he was initially not on the radar of investigators but was soon identified as a person of interest on Friday. he was soon located in Shreveport, Louisiana where he was taken into custody and is now awaiting extradition back to Texas.

Gonzalez reportedly lived in the same apartment complex as the alleged killer. Her father left for work on the day she died and even called her on her cell phone that same day. She also messaged her father and told him someone was knocking at the door. He then told her not to open it and she assured him that she would not. This was the last time her father heard from her.

When he arrived home on October 12, he found his daughter underneath a bed and was not breathing. She was reportedly placed inside a plastic trash bag that was stuffed inside a laundry basket before being concealed under a bed.

As investigators searched the Gonzalez apartment for clues, they found a key. This led them to the apartment where Garcia-Rodriguez lived where they managed to open the door using that key. The teen had reportedly been living with others and his roommates had their respective keys with them.

Family of Murdered Texas Girl Releases Statement After Texas Strangling Suspect Was Arrested

With his arrest in Louisiana, Maria's family released a statement thanking the Pasadena Police Department and the Louisiana police who helped in Garcia-Rodriguez's capture.

"This arrest has brought the family and community some peace. We are extremely thankful that he cannot cause this type of pain to anybody again," the statement read. "I ask for those who are in charge to give us justice. May he be burdened with the full weight of the law, for what he has done to my daughter."

According to KHOU-11, a picture of the suspected teen strangler was shared by police. It was taken from an officer's body camera on the day he was interviewed by investigators.

Who is Texas Teen Suspect Juan Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez?

Carlos Garcia Rodriguez had a $5,000 reward for his arrest before he was captured by local police in Louisiana. Prior to this, he was reportedly an immigrant who entered the United States back in January, according to Sportskeeda. He was originally from Guatemala.

He reportedly entered the United States through El Paso and lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a while. he was reportedly sponsored to live in the US and was released by immigration before moving to Pasadena, Texas.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: LIVE UPDATE: Police identify person interest in murder of 11-year-old Maria Gonzalez - FOX 26 Houston