On March 31, 2023, the family of 32-year-old Michelle Angela Morales-Nakaza reported her missing after losing contact with her for several days. She was last seen on March 27 at a Baskin-Robbins located at 12379 Edgemere Boulevard in El Paso, Texas. Witnesses indicated that she might have been picked up by a Hispanic male driving a white Toyota Camry, as Morales-Nakaza did not own a vehicle.
The investigation took a grim turn on April 10, when police discovered Morales-Nakaza's body in the Red Sands area of El Paso County. The El Paso Police Department initiated a murder investigation, identifying her boyfriend, 34-year-old Christopher Paul Maya, as the primary suspect. Witnesses described their relationship as "toxic," with Maya allegedly expressing intentions to harm her on multiple occasions.
According to court documents, Maya confessed to friends that he and Morales-Nakaza were asleep in a car when he noticed his wallet was missing. Assuming she had taken it, he fatally shot her multiple times before disposing of her body in the desert. One witness recounted Maya's disturbing excitement when describing the incident.
On April 12, authorities arrested Maya in a Walmart parking lot in northeast El Paso. He was charged with murder and held on a $1 million bond. In February 2024, Maya pleaded guilty to the murder of Morales-Nakaza and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Morales-Nakaza is survived by her three children: a son, Isiah Hernandez, and two daughters, Olivia and Makayla Hernandez. Her death underscores the tragic consequences of domestic violence and has had a profound impact on the El Paso community.
