On Tuesday, Francisco Oropeza, the prime suspect in a mass murder case in San Jacinto County, Texas, was apprehended in Cut and Shoot, Texas, approximately 11 miles from the crime scene. District Attorney Todd Dillon announced that several arrests were made in connection with the case, including that of Oropeza’s domestic partner.
Oropeza was found inside of a closet, hiding under a pile of laundry. He is accused of fatally shooting five neighbors, including a third-grader, in a San Jacinto County home. The arrest occurred after officials increased the reward for information leading to his capture to $100,000, with contributions from the U.S. Marshals, the FBI, multi-county Crime Stoppers, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Divimara Lamar Nava, Oropeza’s domestic partner, was arrested on Tuesday for hindering the apprehension of a felon. She was at the scene during Oropeza’s arrest and is accused of assisting him during the week. Nava is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.
In the past, Nava had attempted to file a protective order against Oropeza, accusing him of physical abuse and death threats. However, neither party appeared in court, so a permanent order was never signed by a judge.
Dillon informed that an acquaintance of Oropeza was also booked into San Jacinto County Jail on Tuesday night on possession of marijuana charges. The individual is suspected of helping Oropeza flee the neighborhood where the crime occurred, and additional charges are expected to be filed. The person in question has been identified as Domingo Castilla.
Deputy Sheriff Tim Kean confirmed that it was Oropeza who had been spotted on Monday on Highway 105 East near Security Landfill Road.
Authorities lost track of him, but Kean stated that it was not a false alarm. Oropeza had a cellphone in his possession when he was found, and he had been in contact with people who never left the area. Kean expressed his concern about those who assisted Oropeza, calling him a “maniac.”
The search for Oropeza began on Saturday in Cleveland, Texas, following the shootings on Friday evening. The incident was triggered when neighbors asked Oropeza to stop firing his AR-15 in his yard due to a newborn baby trying to sleep. Authorities’ response time was 14 minutes, as they were already nearby responding to another call.
Oropeza is currently being held in the San Jacinto County Jail on a $7.5 million bond on five murder charges. Officials are considering the possibility of capital murder charges. When asked why capital murder had not yet been filed, District Attorney Dillon explained that the benefit would be the denial of bond for Oropeza.