FBI DNA testing leads to suspect's arrest in Texas cold case murder: Police
Irasema Chavez was killed in her home in January 2012.
A woman was arrested by Texas authorities and charged with murder after FBI DNA testing linked her to a murder case that was stuck in limbo for 14 years.
Mayra Velasquez, 42, was arrested by Arlington Police on July 16 in connection with the January 2012 homicide of her friend Irasema Chavez, police announced Wednesday.
Chavez, then 32, was found dead inside her S. Collins Street home with 100 stab wounds, according to investigators.
Although the police had a lot of evidence, including surveillance footage and a blood sample found at the scene, they could not identify a suspect, Arlington Police Chief of Police Al Jones told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.
The police department requested the FBI in 2024 to use its Investigative Genetic Genealogy program to help look over the DNA evidence they had, and through two years of additional probing they were able to identify Velasquez as the alleged murderer, according to the chief.
"I am extremely proud of the work that our officers and crime scene investigators did on this case. They showed tenacity and dedication and never gave up," Jones said.
Attorney information for Velasquez was not immediately available.
Jones said that Arlington PD investigators ran the blood sample through their DNA database, but the tests did not have a match with anyone in their system.
In April, the FBI said the IGG tests, which use DNA, genealogy research and publicly available historical records, found that Velasquez was a potential suspect and the investigation picked up, according to Jones.
Police obtained Velasquez's DNA from discarded trash in May, and the sample matched the sample from the blood found at the crime scene, according to Jones.
Det. Tracy Dixon, the main homicide detective on the case, told reporters Wednesday that Velasquez was interviewed and that statements she made during that interview were also critical pieces of evidence in her arrest. Dixon declined to provide more details.
Jones said investigators are still trying to determine a motive behind the killing.
Dixon broke down in tears when asked about the 14-year break in the case and the emotional reaction from Chavez's relatives.
"Being able to share that with the family is why we do this work, and they were very grateful," she said.