HOUSTON – An eight year-old-boy discovered his mother’s murdered body and now the search is on for her killer.
Investigators charged 22-year-old Alexis Armando Rojas-Mendez with murdering 27-year-old Ashley Garcia in the 5500 block of DeSoto. They claim when the young boy found his mother’s body, Rojas-Mendez said she was just sleeping.
Garcia’s sister Yessenia said Ashley was seven weeks pregnant and a loving mother to three.
“You know, those kids are so much like her, it’s crazy,” said Yessenia.
Court documents reveal late Friday night a neighbor saw Rojas-Mendez beating a woman and trying to force her as well as a young boy inside a Jeep, but the woman refused. So Mendez dragged her from the parking lot to a third-floor apartment.
The documents also state Rojas-Mendez beat Garcia to death with a steel toe boot inside his northwest Houston apartment early Saturday morning, while her son was nearby. According to investigators, after Mendez killed Garcia, he told her son she was just sleeping and not to wake her up.
Thursday afternoon, the Garcia family plans to lay Ashley to rest during a private ceremony.
“I have so many mixed emotions. I am sad, I am angry, I just want justice for her, that’s all I want, I want her to be at peace,” said Yessenia.
If you know the whereabouts of Rojas-Mendez, please reach out to Houston Police or CrimeStoppers at 713-222-TIPS.