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(Trends Wide) — A 20-year-old woman who was missing for more than a week in West Texas was found dead Saturday, and a man was taken into custody in connection with her slaying, police said.
Madeline Pantoja was reported missing on May 11. Her car and her cell phone were left at home, the Midland Police Department reported.
His disappearance set off a search that lasted several days and involved various law enforcement agencies.
Her remains were found in a rural area southeast of the city limits nine days after she was reported, police announced Saturday.
Hours after the discovery, Mario Juan Chacon Jr., 24, was arrested as the suspect in Pantoja’s death, according to Midland police.
He has been held without bond since Saturday night at the Midland County Jail, police said. Trends Wide is working to determine if Chacón has an attorney.
Authorities provided few details Saturday, including what led police to suspect Chacón in the woman’s death or whether he knew her previously.
The investigation into Pantoja’s death is ongoing and an autopsy will be performed in Dallas, Midland police said.
The search for Pantoja had been going on “24 hours a day” for the past week, Midland Police Chief Seth Herman said at a news conference Friday. The FBI, the Texas Rangers, the Department of Homeland Security and the Midland County Sheriff’s Office had joined the investigation.
The air and ground teams involved in the search had searched about 60 square miles, Herman said.
More than a dozen search warrants were also issued and more than 25 people were interviewed as investigators searched for Pantoja, the chief added.
Before Pantoja was found dead, Midland Mayor Lori Blong announced a $20,000 reward Friday for information leading to her whereabouts.
“I cannot imagine the stress and concern of Madeline’s family and friends at this ordeal,” the mayor said during Friday’s press conference. Police did not say Saturday whether that reward has been claimed.
He has been held without bond since Saturday night at the Midland County Jail, police said. Trends Wide is working to determine if Chacón has an attorney.
Authorities provided few details Saturday, including what led police to suspect Chacón in the woman’s death or whether he knew her previously.
The investigation into Pantoja’s death is ongoing and an autopsy will be performed in Dallas, Midland police said.
The search for Pantoja had been going on “24 hours a day” for the past week, Midland Police Chief Seth Herman said at a news conference Friday. The FBI, the Texas Rangers, the Department of Homeland Security and the Midland County Sheriff’s Office had joined the investigation.
The air and ground teams involved in the search had searched about 60 square miles, Herman said.
More than a dozen search warrants were also issued and more than 25 people were interviewed as investigators searched for Pantoja, the chief added.
Before Pantoja was found dead, Midland Mayor Lori Blong announced a $20,000 reward Friday for information leading to her whereabouts.
“I cannot imagine the stress and concern of Madeline’s family and friends at this ordeal,” the mayor said during Friday’s press conference. Police did not say Saturday whether that reward has been claimed.
