On March 23, 2023, the body of 19-year-old Janeecia Shanae "Nene" Mason was discovered under a bridge at 350 Precinct Line Road in Fort Worth, Texas. Mason, a recent high school graduate who had been reported missing by her family on March 19, was last seen on March 17 in Dallas. Her mother, Barbara Taylor, described her daughter as someone who loved doing hair, makeup, and nails, and expressed deep grief over the loss.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Mason died from multiple gunshot wounds, ruling her death a homicide. Investigators believe that Mason had been working as a sex worker in the area and was last seen entering a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo on March 17. Surveillance footage and cell phone data tracked the vehicle's movements through various areas of Dallas.
On March 30, 2023, Fort Worth police arrested 29-year-old Joseph Aparicio in connection with Mason's death. Aparicio was charged with murder and booked into the Tarrant County Jail. During the investigation, a swab from the front passenger seat of Aparicio's red Monte Carlo tested positive for blood, and women's clothing matching what Mason was last seen wearing was found in his bedroom. Authorities allege that Aparicio shot Mason and later transported her body to the location where it was found.
Mason's family held a funeral service for her in Louisiana, where she was born. Her mother continues to seek closure and justice for her daughter's untimely death, urging anyone with additional information to come forward. The case has drawn attention to the dangers faced by young women involved in sex work and the ongoing issue of violence against women in the community.
