Natalie Ochoa, a 31-year-old woman from Houston, Texas, was found beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted on December 16, 2011. She was discovered barely alive on a street in the 4100 block of River Drive in the early hours of the morning, and despite being rushed to the hospital, she was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival. DNA was collected from the scene, but initially, there were no matches found, leading the case to go cold for several years.
In 2018, Joseph Richard Reyes, who had previously been arrested for an unrelated sexual offense, was linked to Ochoa's death through DNA evidence. His DNA was added to the law enforcement database as part of his earlier probation requirements. This match provided a breakthrough in the case, leading to his arrest and indictment on charges of capital murder. Reyes denied any involvement, claiming to have no knowledge of how his DNA ended up under Ochoa's fingernails. However, the evidence was deemed sufficient to charge him for her murder.
The case had initially stagnated due to insufficient investigation under Detective Ryan Chandler, who was later dismissed for negligence and misconduct related to several homicide cases, including Ochoa's. Her family expressed frustration, believing her death had been overlooked because of her troubled past and struggles with substance abuse. They emphasized that she had been working to turn her life around, including pursuing training as a medical technician after her release from jail in September 2011, less than two months before her death. Her brother, Carlos Garcia, voiced concerns about how the police had devalued her case, urging that no one's life should be disregarded due to their past or social status.
