A 31-year-old woman from San Angelo, Texas, has admitted to the gruesome murder and dismemberment of her live-in partner, 34-year-old Roland Matthew Sheppard. The authorities began their investigation after receiving an anonymous tip, which led them to a landfill where parts of the victim’s remains were found.
Audrey Troncoso is currently facing murder charges and is being held in the Tom Green County Jail on a bond set at $2 million. The investigation commenced on the morning of June 24, following the tip concerning a potential homicide in the 1400 block of Parker Street. Initial inquiries confirmed the validity of the tip, leading detectives to a dumpster in the 600 block of Baker Street.
Although the dumpster had already been emptied by a trash collection service, investigators managed to trace the specific truck used and searched its contents. Inside, they discovered bloody clothing and a significant piece of blood-stained carpet. Armed with a search warrant, law enforcement executed a raid at the residence where Troncoso and Sheppard lived together and detained Troncoso, uncovering evidence that a homicide had likely occurred there on June 23.
As the investigation progressed, portions of Sheppard’s remains were recovered at the Republic Services landfill, located at 3002 Old Ballinger Highway, where the dumpster’s contents had been taken. During an interview with the Criminal Investigations Division, Troncoso confessed to the murder, revealing that she shot Sheppard in the face and stabbed him multiple times before dismembering his body in an effort to conceal the evidence.
A police spokesperson described the incident as one of the most violent homicides the department has investigated in recent years, noting that the crime scene work was particularly harrowing for the already short-staffed department.
While authorities have indicated that there is a known motive for the crime, they are withholding this information from the public until it has been thoroughly verified by investigators. The investigation remains ongoing, with detectives pursuing leads to determine whether Troncoso acted alone.
This incident marks the sixth murder recorded in San Angelo in 2026. Police are encouraging anyone with additional information to come forward and submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 658-HELP.
