In the late afternoon of Sunday, September 13, 2026, a tragedy unfolded in the quiet setting of Fisherman's Park in Bastrop, Texas, claiming the life of 20-year-old Mariana Montoya Palacios. A recent graduate from a nursing certificate program, Mariana had her entire future ahead of her, a future that was violently cut short. Just two days prior, she had proudly celebrated this significant accomplishment, a testament to her hard work and her dreams of making a difference in the lives of others. Mariana, a resident of Cedar Creek, Texas, was described as a young woman full of life with many aspirations. She was the youngest in her family and is remembered for the love she shared and the lasting impression she left on everyone she met.
The circumstances of Mariana's death were the result of a violent encounter with her 22-year-old former boyfriend, Manuel Salgado, also of Cedar Creek. The two met at the park where Salgado shot Palacios at close range, inflicting fatal injuries. First responders arrived at the scene in the 1200 block of Willow Street at approximately 5:50 p.m. to find Mariana deceased and Salgado with a life-threatening self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment but ultimately succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, September 15. The incident was initially reported as an isolated event with no further threat to the public.
The investigation took a darker turn as detectives delved into the events leading up to the murder-suicide. It was discovered that Salgado was also connected to the death of another woman, 27-year-old Desiree Gauna, in Austin. On the morning of September 15, Austin police conducted a welfare check at a residence on West William Cannon Drive after Gauna's family reported they were unable to reach her. Officers found Gauna deceased inside the home, having sustained injuries from gunshot wounds. Investigators learned that Gauna had been living with Salgado and that both had stopped communicating with others on the afternoon of September 13, the same day as the shooting in Bastrop. Authorities believe Salgado was responsible for both women's deaths, having been romantically involved with both. While the investigation into Gauna's death remains open, with the perpetrator deceased, there will be no arrests or trial. The case stands as a tragic overview of domestic violence, leaving two families to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
