PASADENA, Texas – Pasadena police are still attempting to locate a murder suspect in connection to the death of an 11-year-old girl who was strangled to death and sexually assaulted at her family’s apartment on Saturday.
The child, Maria Gonzalez, was killed at the residence in the 1000 block of Main.
Police were dispatched to the scene around 3:07 p.m. after Maria’s father called reporting that his daughter was not breathing.
Paramedics arrived and tried to revive the child, but she was later pronounced dead.
The father told police he had left for work that morning while Maria stayed home.
He said they had been talking on the phone that day and the last message he received was when she told him someone was knocking at the front door.
The father said when he returned home from work, he found her dead body under her bed, according to investigators.
“The medical examiner concluded that the cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation. Additional investigation determined that the victim was sexually assaulted,” Pasadena police said.
Surrounded by family and friends, Maria Gonzalez recently celebrated her 11th birthday.
“She was a sweet little girl,” said Paty Gonzalez.
Family friend, Paty Gonzalez recorded a video of Maria with her birthday cake. Not realizing it would be her last.
“I got this news and I was just talking to her, I was there sitting beside her,” said Gonzalez.
Detectives said it is unclear if the attack is random, or if her killer is someone the family knew.
Surveillance cameras outside the apartments were not working at the time of the murder. Detectives said they are looking through other surveillance video in the neighborhood. They are also collecting DNA samples from people at the apartments.
“Hopefully they get this person and we want justice for her,” said Paty Gonzalez.
Instead of another birthday, Maria’s loved ones are planning her funeral without knowing who took her life.
Police said it is unclear how long it will take to get the DNA results back, but this is a high-priority case. Detectives said Maria and her father have been living in Pasadena for a few months. She was not enrolled in school, but her father was about to sign her up. Her mother is in Guatemala.
Pasadena Police’s Violent Crimes Unit and Crime Scene Unit are investigating the case. If anyone has any information about this crime, they should call Detective M. Quintanilla at 713-475-7803 or Detective S. Mata at 713-475-7878.