A North Texas real estate agent, charged with capital murder in connection to a 14-year-old Arlington cold case, is contesting the DNA evidence that led to her arrest. Mayra Velasquez, who remains in custody, is seeking a release from jail while her attorney disputes the conclusions drawn by investigators.
The case revolves around the murder of Irasema Chavez, who was found brutally stabbed over 100 times in her Arlington apartment. The investigation, which had gone cold for years, was revived when DNA from a discarded plastic fork, allegedly used by Velasquez, matched evidence collected from the crime scene.
At a recent press conference, authorities revealed that genetic genealogy techniques identified Velasquez as a potential suspect. Following this lead, detectives tracked her to a restaurant and collected the plastic fork she had used. Arlington Police Chief Al Jones stated that DNA from the fork matched a blood droplet found at the crime scene in 2012.
However, Velasquez’s attorney, Frank Sellers, is skeptical of the findings. “I think that the conclusion is flawed. I don’t know necessarily that the investigation is flawed,” he asserted, raising questions about the evidence’s reliability. He expressed doubts regarding the validity of the blood analysis, suggesting that the timeline of the evidence does not support the assertion that it was fresh.
Currently, Velasquez is being held without bond. Her attorney is requesting that a judge grant her bond, highlighting her clean criminal record as a key factor. Additionally, Sellers plans to contest other pieces of evidence, including surveillance footage from outside Chavez’s apartment on the night of the murder, which detectives believe shows Velasquez. Sellers argues that the individual in the video appears to be male, contradicting the assertion that it is his client.
While police have indicated that Velasquez and Chavez were known to each other, they have not disclosed any specific motive for the murder, leaving many questions unanswered as the case progresses.
