On April 18, 1979, Charles Edward Moya, a 30-year-old Hispanic male, was brutally murdered in Dallas, Texas. Moya shared an apartment with 32-year-old Tony Natal Gutierrez, another Hispanic male, and both men became victims of a violent attack carried out by David Villarreal, a serial killer who targeted gay men across Texas between 1978 and 1981. Villarreal reportedly entered their apartment with the intent to kill both men, stating he "didn't like them."
The attack began with Villarreal stabbing Gutierrez in the chest and slashing his throat. He then moved to the hallway where he encountered Moya and similarly slashed his throat. After killing both men, Villarreal engaged in disturbing postmortem mutilation. He disfigured Gutierrez’s face by shoving a teaspoon up his nose and stabbing near both eyes before covering his head with a pillow. Moya’s body was also desecrated—his right eyelid was burned with a match, indicating a level of cruelty and personal animosity.
At the time of the murders, Villarreal was not immediately apprehended. He was briefly detained for questioning in connection with another murder but released due to insufficient evidence. However, he was later arrested on unrelated burglary charges and imprisoned in Austin for nearly two years. After his release, Villarreal committed another murder in San Antonio, which ultimately led to his arrest on March 10, 1981.
Following his arrest, Villarreal confessed to killing seven men, including Charles Edward Moya and Tony Natal Gutierrez. He was charged with multiple counts of murder and eventually pleaded guilty. For the murders committed in Dallas, including those of Moya and Gutierrez, Villarreal received three life sentences. He later received two additional life sentences for murders committed in San Antonio. As of early 2023, David Villarreal remains incarcerated at the James V. Allred Unit in Wichita Falls, Texas.
