Body of missing Humble mother identified after being discovered in trunk in Nebraska, sheriff says; Son charged with unauthorized use of vehicle

HUMBLE, Texas – The body discovered inside of a trunk on Friday has been positively identified as a Humble mother who was reported missing last week.

According to Nebraska State Patrol, the woman found dead was 49-year-old Michelle Roenz. She was said to have disappeared alongside her 17-year-old son, Tyler, on Thursday.

NSP said Tyler sent authorities on a high-speed chase before crashing out and ending the pursuit.

He was then apprehended and has been transferred from St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island to an Omaha hospital for ongoing treatment of injuries suffered when he crashed.

According to investigators, Michelle, who was an animal advocate, and her son were last seen around 11:40 a.m. Thursday in the 14700 block of Birch Arbor Court, near their home. They were later reported missing.

The circumstances surrounding her death remain unknown.

According to court documents, Tyler only had the authorization to use the vehicle to go back and forth to school and did not have permission to operate the vehicle outside of Harris County. He was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, court documents said.

Michelle’s husband told authorities that he entered the garage of his home to find what appeared to be a tooth and a trail of blood that led to the master bedroom, where there were at least four apparent human teeth on the carpet. The husband said he also found his wife’s purse and cell phone in the bedroom. The man said he called out for his son and wife but found that the vehicle was missing and no one was home.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Homicide Unit, at (713) 755-6056 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-8477.