A 42-year-old female real estate agent, Mayra Velasquez, has been arrested in connection with the 2012 murder of Irasema Chavez, who was stabbed approximately 100 times in her Arlington, Texas apartment. Velasquez faces capital murder charges and was booked into the Tarrant County Corrections Center on July 17, according to jail records.
Details of the 2012 Murder
Chavez, 32, was found dead inside her second-floor apartment on January 20, 2012, with around 100 stab wounds, as reported by CBS News. Police found no signs of forced entry, suggesting Chavez may have known her attacker or willingly let them in.
Initial evidence included surveillance footage from the night before the killing, showing an unknown individual in baggy clothing and a hoodie climbing the stairs to Chavez's unit, knocking on the door, and being allowed inside after exchanging words.
Investigation and DNA Analysis
Despite multiple leads, including the surveillance footage and blood at the scene that did not belong to Chavez, DNA evidence initially failed to match anyone in databases. In 2016, investigators sent a blood sample to Parabon NanoLabs, where scientists used DNA markers to generate a composite of the suspect's likely appearance, including ancestry, eye color, hair color, and skin tone.
In 2024, the Arlington Police Department partnered with the FBI Dallas Field Office, employing Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), which combines crime-scene DNA analysis with public genealogy databases and family tree research. After two years, the IGG program produced a significant lead, allowing detectives to develop additional evidence.
Arrest and Current Status
Investigators did not disclose the specific new evidence or whether it was a direct DNA match with Velasquez, but stated it was sufficient to secure an arrest warrant. It remains unclear if Velasquez and Chavez knew each other. Velasquez is being held without bond, and her next court date has not been announced, according to jail records.
