On September 4, 2024, Maria Flores, 37, was found unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds at her apartment complex on Concourse Drive near Beltway 8 in Houston, Texas. Houston Police Department (HPD) officers responded to the scene around 11:40 p.m., where Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced her deceased.
Surveillance footage from the apartment complex showed Flores walking with a man shortly before the shooting.
HPD released images of this individual, described as a Hispanic male, identifying him as a person of interest. Flores' family, particularly her sister Vanessa, expressed deep grief and a desire for justice, urging the individual to come forward.
After an extensive investigation, authorities identified the suspect as 30-year-old Daniel Vargas Cartagena. On November 21, 2024, members of the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Cartagena in Karnes County, southeast of San Antonio. He has been charged with capital murder in the 337th State District Court and is awaiting extradition to Harris County.
The arrest brought a measure of relief to Flores' family, who had been seeking answers since her tragic death. Vanessa Flores described her sister as "bubbly" and someone who "loved to laugh," noting that Maria had been excited about starting a new job. The family continues to mourn her loss, hoping for justice and closure as legal proceedings against Cartagena move forward.
