Woman found dead in vacant lot had been reported missing by family

Residents worry woman's killer may have attacked another woman 2 weeks ago

SAN ANTONIO – As SAPD homicide detectives worked the case of a body found in a vacant lot Wednesday afternoon, residents in the area had growing concerns that the person who killed the woman may have attacked another woman recently.

Police were contacted around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after a passerby found the decomposing body of an adult female hidden in the tall grass of a fenced-in lot in the 4400 block of Presa Street.

Investigators said the woman had obvious signs of trauma to her head and face and it appeared she had been in the lot for a few days before being discovered.

Delores Mejia said she believes whoever killed the woman was likely the same person who viciously attacked her friend two weeks ago.

"Two Fridays ago, she was found in an alley. She had been raped and strangled, so she's in a vegetative state," Mejia said. "It needs to be stopped. This is the second person in two weeks."

Mejia's friend was so brutally beaten, she might not survive her injuries.

Just like the woman who was found Wednesday, Mejia said her friend's body was dumped in tall grass in a secluded alley.

"They found my friend in an alley that was completely covered, they would have never found her if the owner hadn't gone to cut the grass," Mejia said.

Distraught relatives of a woman who was reported missing last Friday learned it was her body that was discovered Wednesday, but so far, police aren't releasing that woman's identity.

Police did confirm there were active missing person cases in the area.

"At this point, I wouldn't want to speculate on who it might be," said Sgt. Javier Salazar. "We've got some ideas as to who the person might be but we're going to wait for the medical examiner to make that final determination."

Mejia said she worries it's just a matter of time before another girl encounters the person who's responsible.

"There's a lot of girls that walk the streets here," Mejia said. "They need to be made aware because if somebody doesn't let them know that this person is out there, they're going to keep jumping into a vehicle with anyone they see."