Gonzalez was taken into custody without incident in Cotulla and is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
Sheriff’s Statement: “A Moment for Healing”
La Salle County Sheriff Hector Ramirez described the arrest as a milestone in both the investigation and the healing process for Cotulla.
“For twenty years, this community has carried the memory of a terrible loss,” Ramirez said. “This arrest represents a significant step toward justice. More importantly, it represents a moment for healing—for the victim’s family, who have waited so long, and for a community that has never forgotten.”
Ramirez emphasized that the pursuit of justice was about more than solving a crime:
“It has been about giving a voice to the victim, honoring her memory, and providing hope to her family. We know that nothing can erase the pain of the past, but we pray that this step forward brings comfort as we now move into the prosecution phase.”
He also praised the persistence of law enforcement across multiple administrations:
