SAN ANTONIO – The death of a man whose body was found burning in the brush along a busy Southeast Side road is being described as a great loss for the community.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the identity of the victim as Manuel Gomez Mendez Jr., 84.
Passersby called 911 Saturday morning after noticing what appeared to be a grass fire along Rigsby Avenue, not far from Roland Road.
While putting out that fire, San Antonio firefighters noticed a body in the middle of it and called in homicide investigators.
A report from San Antonio police says the body had its hands bound, and it was wrapped in a jacket and shower curtain.
Melvin Fechner fought back tears Wednesday morning as he spoke about Mendez, who he called “Manny.”
He said the East Side senior had worked tirelessly in the community for years, often loaning his time to the charity Fechner and his family run, HIS BridgeBuilders.
“He made a big difference in a lot of people’s lives, mine included,” Fechner said. “Always being with God’s people, doing the work of God, to love God and love his neighbors.”
He said he witnessed Mendez often bending over backwards, trying to fill whatever needs people may have, from providing food and clothing to getting them medical help and housing.
“Like a roving good Samaritan, you know, just out looking for people to befriend and see how he could help them out,” Fechner said.
Eva Bonifacio and her family were among the recipients of Mendez’s assistance.
She said she first met him in 2020, then began renting a home from him about five months ago.
Bonifacio, who is from Honduras, spoke in Spanish, describing Mendez as a loving person who she could count on to check in with her regularly.
She said when she stopped hearing from him last week, she got a feeling something was wrong.
Now, Bonifacio said all she feels is the need for justice and for Mendez’s killer to be caught.
As of Wednesday afternoon, police had not made any arrests.
For Fechner, meanwhile, the feeling largely is loss.
He said Mendez is irreplaceable.
“Teddy Roosevelt said, ‘Walk softly and carry a big stick.’ Manny walked softly and carried a big heart,” Fechner said. “There’s not many guys like that. He’s the only one I knew.”
Fechner said Mendez also worked closely with a church that operates out of a building on Arthur Street called A Gathering Place.
In addition to all the people he knew and helped in the community, his friends said Mendez was a father of two sons.
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