Texas Charges Mayra Velasquez, 42, in 2012 Cold-Case Killing of Irasema Chavez
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Texas Charges Mayra Velasquez, 42, in 2012 Cold-Case Killing of Irasema Chavez
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
Mayra Velasquez, 42, was jailed without bond on July 17 and charged with capital murder in the 2012 stabbing death of 32-year-old Irasema Chavez in Arlington, Texas.
Roughly 100 knife wounds were found on Chavez, and blood at the apartment did not match her, giving investigators DNA evidence even after surveillance video of a hooded visitor failed to identify a suspect.
A 2016 Parabon NanoLabs DNA phenotype produced a composite but no arrest; the case advanced after Arlington police took it to the FBI's investigative genetic genealogy program in November 2024.
Police said that process generated a significant lead earlier this year, after which detectives gathered more evidence and obtained a warrant, though authorities have not said whether Velasquez knew Chavez or how the lead was confirmed.
Arlington police and the FBI are scheduled to discuss the arrest at a joint Wednesday news conference, underscoring the growing role of genetic genealogy in reviving long-stalled homicide cases.