A Dallas-Fort Worth real estate agent has been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the 2012 stabbing death of an Arlington woman, marking a major breakthrough in a case that remained unsolved for more than 14 years.
Mayra Velasquez, 42, was taken into custody on July 17 and charged in the killing of 32-year-old Irasema Chavez, according to the Arlington Police Department. She is being held in the Tarrant County Jail without bond.
Public records identify Velasquez as a licensed real estate agent with Pure Realtors, LLC, holding an active Texas real estate license.
Cold Case Revived Through Investigative Genetic Genealogy
Chavez was found dead inside her apartment at the Aspenwood Apartments in the 2700 block of South Collins Street on January 20, 2012. Police said she had suffered multiple stab wounds. According to reports, she was stabbed nearly 100 times.
Investigators found no signs of forced entry, leading detectives to believe Chavez likely knew her attacker.
Despite years of investigative work, authorities were unable to identify a suspect. DNA collected from the crime scene did not match anyone in law enforcement databases, and witness information provided few viable leads.
In 2016, Arlington police turned to Parabon NanoLabs, which created a DNA-based composite predicting the suspect’s physical appearance. The forensic profile, however, did not generate any significant leads.
FBI Partnership Produced Breakthrough
The investigation gained new momentum in November 2024 when the Arlington Police Department’s Homicide Unit partnered with the FBI Dallas Field Office through the bureau’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) program.
Earlier this year, investigators said the genetic genealogy analysis produced a significant lead that detectives used to develop additional evidence.
Authorities have not disclosed the specific evidence that linked Velasquez to the case or explained the relationship, if any, between her and Chavez.
That investigation ultimately led to a capital murder warrant and Velasquez’s arrest.
Surveillance Video Released Early in Investigation
Shortly after Chavez’s death, Arlington police released surveillance video showing an unidentified person entering the apartment complex the night before the killing.
Detectives spent years pursuing numerous investigative leads, but none resulted in an arrest until advances in forensic technology helped reopen the case.
Police To Release Additional Details
The Arlington Police Department and the FBI Dallas Field Office are scheduled to hold a joint news conference at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 22, where investigators are expected to provide additional information about the investigation and the breakthrough that led to the arrest.
Officials have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding Chavez’s death or whether additional arrests are possible.
The case highlights the growing role of investigative genetic genealogy in solving decades-old cold cases by combining DNA evidence with genealogical research to identify previously unknown suspects.
Provided by Dallas Express
