On August 16, 2024, 54-year-old Elmo Minjarez Jr. was last seen in the 1800 block of East Colgate Street in Lubbock, Texas. His family reported him missing on September 16, expressing concerns for his safety.
During an unrelated homicide investigation in September, detectives received information suggesting that Minjarez had been shot and killed. Witnesses indicated that his body might have been concealed under a mattress.
On September 18, the Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit and the Forensic Investigations Division conducted searches in rural areas south of Lubbock. They discovered human skeletal remains wrapped in an air mattress, bedding, and a tarp, bound with red and orange tape. Personal items, including a wristwatch and jewelry, were found with the remains.
On September 20, 57-year-old Armando Champion left a voicemail for a detective, admitting responsibility for Minjarez's death and requesting time to say goodbye to his family before surrendering. He was arrested on September 23 in the 1900 block of East 1st Street by investigators from the Lubbock Texas Anti-Gang Center. Champion was charged with murder and held on a $200,000 bond.
In October, a Lubbock County grand jury indicted Champion for the murder of Elmo Minjarez Jr. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence in the case.
