On August 21, 2016, Javier Soto, a 43-year-old from San Antonio, was brutally murdered. His decapitated body was found on fire in a trash bin near an apartment complex on Goliad Road. Soto was last seen in Houston a day before his body was discovered. The crime was particularly gruesome, involving both decapitation and setting the body on fire.
Jorge Rivera was eventually arrested and charged in connection to Soto's murder. Rivera confessed during questioning, and his arrest occurred after he was stopped in a separate human smuggling incident. He later took a plea deal and was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder. The case was deeply shocking due to its violent nature and has remained a painful memory for the community. Authorities made significant efforts to gather public assistance and evidence that ultimately led to Rivera's conviction.
