The witness, now identified as Victor Esparza, was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the murder of Victor Nunez after an additional witness came forward.
MIDLAND, Texas — A reported witness whose account of a murder led to a dismembered body has now been arrested in connection with the killing of a man in Midland.
According to a newly obtained affidavit in the case, 31-year-old Victor Esparza has been charged in connection with the killing of Victor Nunez.
Court documents show that investigators were conducting a follow-up investigation on Wednesday after a witness allegedly contacted law enforcement to report he had witnessed a crime. Esparza provided information leading to arrest warrants for Sandra Ramos and an additional suspect.
On Wednesday, officials reported that they interviewed an additional witness who was present during the incident. Investigators learned that Esparza was not only a witness to the initial crime but also assisted in the murder of Nunez.
The witness stated that Esparza assisted in the murder by striking the victim and stomping him until he was unconscious.
Investigators learned that Esparza and Ramos then reportedly strangled the victim until he was dead.
Police report that due to the information obtained during the investigation, investigators gained probable cause to believe that Esparza intentionally and knowingly caused the death of Victor Nunez.
A body has been recovered in Midland after a witness told police he saw a murder during the early hours of Monday morning.
According to an affidavit, Midland County Sheriff’s Office deputies initially responded to the wrong address in the area of NCR 1135. Homeowners there consented to a search, but deputies later determined the residence they were looking for was at another nearby property. The homeowners also told investigators that suspicious activity frequently occurred at the other residence, where 43-year-old Sandra Ramos reportedly lived.
Deputies then responded to the residence on NCR 1135, where they found a double-wide trailer with covered windows, large dogs, and trenches being dug behind the home. Deputies said they repeatedly knocked on the door, but no one answered. Authorities later contacted Ramos, who agreed to meet with deputies but never arrived.
Court documents state investigators later interviewed Esparza, who appeared disorganized and inconsistent but claimed he witnessed a murder inside the trailer.
The witness allegedly gave investigators a cellphone believed to belong to Ramos and showed them recordings of conversations between Esparza and another male suspect.
According to the affidavit, the witness said the victim had been involved in a dispute over stolen money that was allegedly deposited into a Chime account.
Investigators said the witness told them Ramos picked him and the victim up from a hotel and drove them to the residence in the 4400 block of North County Road, where several people were allegedly using methamphetamine and partying.
Esparza also claimed Ramos later contacted the other male suspect through FaceTime and discussed assaulting the victim.
Later that night, the other male suspect allegedly arrived at the home wearing a bandana, sunglasses, and a hat. Esparza told investigators that Ramos then held him at gunpoint with a handgun while the suspect allegedly beat the sleeping victim with a baseball bat.
The affidavit states Ramos also allegedly assaulted and stabbed the victim before placing the body in a large blue wheeled tote container.
Esparza told authorities Ramos forced him to shower at gunpoint and change clothes before attempting to make him dismember the body with a hacksaw. He later told investigators he left the home after Ramos drove away.
According to the affidavit, Esparza then contacted law enforcement and provided investigators with text messages allegedly sent by Ramos after the incident.
Documents state that around 10:50 a.m. on May 12, investigators returned to the property and saw a neighbor operating an excavator behind the residence. Authorities spoke with the neighbor and later contacted the property owner by phone.
The homeowner reportedly confirmed he owned the property and provided investigators with a residential deed. He also told authorities he had been trying to remove Ramos from the home for about a year but had been unable to because he lived out of the area.
The homeowner gave investigators permission to enter the residence and conduct a search and asked that Ramos be removed from the property if possible.
Investigators said the north-side entry door was locked, so they used a breaching tool to force entry.
Inside the home, authorities reported finding a black wheeled storage bin with a portable air conditioning unit blowing air into it. Investigators also noted two silver pots filled with water near the container and what appeared to be dried oatmeal or wood shavings on top of the bin.
Investigators said they opened the container and discovered dismembered human remains believed to be those of a man.
Authorities said they immediately secured the scene and obtained a search warrant to continue processing the residence.
According to the affidavit, investigators developed probable cause to charge Ramos and another male suspect with murder for the death of Victor Nunez. An arrest warrant was requested for two suspects.
Ramos was arrested on Tuesday on a murder charge, and Esparza was arrested the following day.
Both are currently being held with a bond of 2 million dollars.