Johnny Cardenas, a 31-year-old man from Del Valle, Texas, was found dead on July 11, 2018, in the 9800 block of Blocker Lane. His body was discovered off the roadway, approximately 100 yards from his home. The investigation into his death revealed that he had been shot in the head.
Stephanie Marie Ray, 33, the mother of Cardenas's two children, was arrested on February 19, 2019, on charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Detectives believed that Ray had cleaned the crime scene and removed Cardenas's body in an effort to conceal the crime from law enforcement. On July 3, 2019, Ray was charged with murder after she confessed to shooting Cardenas and sending text messages to make it appear he was still alive. Ray's bond was set at $50,000 for the tampering charge and $75,000 for the murder charge.
Ray claimed that Cardenas's death stemmed from a domestic violence incident that spiraled out of control. According to Ray, Cardenas became angry because he had run out of beer and forced her to go to the store to get more. When she returned, Cardenas pushed her to the floor, strangled her, hit her, and kicked her in the side. Ray said that on the day of the shooting, Cardenas pointed a gun at her feet and told her to choose which foot she wanted to be shot. Ray ran into the bathroom, and while she was washing her hands, Cardenas fired a shot that missed her head. She then ran from the bathroom with their baby girl and tried to escape.
Ray's conflicting accounts and her confession during a polygraph test led to her arrest and charges. The investigation revealed that Ray had injuries consistent with being in a fight, and her stories about the events leading up to Cardenas's death were proven false. Ray remains in custody as the case continues to unfold.
The tragic death of Johnny Cardenas and the subsequent arrest and charges against Stephanie Marie Ray highlight the serious consequences of domestic violence and the lengths some individuals will go to cover up such crimes.
