Categories: WORLD

Who is Luis Gonzalez? Relatives of Austin man suspected of murdering two women say ’emotions are running high’

Man charged with murder Texas They used DNA to link him to two separate murders. Luis Fernando Benitez Gonzalez, 26, was arrested in Dallas on April 27 and later charged with first-degree murder in connection with the June 2024 death of Alyssa Ann Rivera, according to an affidavit obtained by CBS Austin and KXAN. However, although detainedwho admitted to the April 2018 killing of Alba Jenisse Aviles Marti.

Who is Luis Gonzalez? Austin man suspected of murdering two women, loved ones speak out (APD)

Gonzalez was taken into custody after investigators with the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force found him at a Dallas apartment complex.

murder

Austin police discovered Rivera’s body on June 21, 2024. She was found face down in the entrance to an abandoned house off East Metcalfe Road in the city.

According to investigators, Rivera, 34, may have been forced into the residence. She may have tried to escape. She had obvious signs of blunt force trauma and strangulation on her face, according to the affidavit.

Drag marks, bloodstains and handprints were found at the scene.

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one Surveillance video Photos taken later showed Rivera walking south on Metcalf Road with a man around 1:46 a.m. on June 19, about two days before her body was found. An autopsy revealed she died of head trauma and blunt force trauma. Her manner of death was listed as homicide.

Gonzalez obtained DNA evidence during sentencing that linked Rivera’s death to Marty’s. Marty was last seen on April 14, 2018, leaving Club Caribe on Felt Lane in south Austin with an unidentified man. Marty’s body was found in his car on an abandoned dirt driveway on Old San Antonio Road in Dale, about 30 miles outside of Austin.

An autopsy revealed that Marty’s death was caused by strangulation and sexual assault.

In fact, in 2024, investigators linked the two cases when the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) showed that identical DNA was allegedly collected at both crime scenes.

In 2025, Austin police finally had a breakthrough while investigating two serious assault shootings involving women in November and December of that year. The victim later identified the same suspect using cellphone photos.

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Investigators later discovered the phone belonged to Gonzalez. Ballistic evidence previously submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network also linked the firearm. Data on his phone showed that in 2018 he was about 700 meters from where Marty’s car was found in the Dale.

Rivera’s family has spoken out about Gonzalez’s arrest. “It was like getting the call when we lost her, when they called us to tell us she was gone. Our emotions were running high,” stepmother Wendy Rivera told CBS Austin.

Wendy said Rivera “lit up the room” as soon as he walked in. “If you met Alyssa once, you would never forget her. Her smile was contagious,” she said.

“We’ve been waiting two years for this and we’ve given up hope. So, we’re happy that he’s in custody now,” she added. “We finally have answers we didn’t have before.”

Who is Luis Fernando Benitez Gonzalez?

Gonzalez, of Austin, admitted to killing the two women after his arrest. He told detectives that Rivera attacked him during an argument about drugs. He claimed he choked her and dragged her body into the house. However, forensic evidence contradicted his version of events, according to the affidavit.

Gonzalez later admitted that he killed Marty in 2018 after a dispute over money. According to investigators, he strangled Marty with her seat belt and then left her in the car.

Gonzalez claimed both murders were committed in self-defense. However, investigators wrote that the evidence showed “a pattern of violent crimes.”

In addition to the first-degree murder charge, Gonzalez faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the 2025 shooting. It’s unclear whether he will face murder charges in Marty’s death.

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