SAN ANTONIO – At least one person who knew a slain West Side woman is "dumbfounded" by the news that she was strangled by her live-in boyfriend.
Carolina Reyes said she has been a friend and landlord to the couple for about five years.
"I don't know what to say, don't know what he was thinking," Reyes said. "All we can do is pray for the family and him."
San Antonio police and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force tracked down and arrested Paulo Gonzalez Chavez, 40, on Thursday night.
They said Chavez was carrying a loaded handgun when he was found in the 7500 block of Military Drive.
Police had been looking for Chavez since Monday afternoon, after Idalia Celedon-Becerra, 29, was found dead by one of her relatives.
"She was in the location, propped up against a bed. She had been covered with a blanket," said San Antonio police spokeswoman Sgt. Michelle Ramos.
Ramos said Chavez had called the relative to pick up Celedon-Becerra's children, who were at school at the time of the murder.
Investigators said the victim had ligature marks on her neck.
They also found a note next to her body, which they believe Chavez wrote.
In the note, Chavez proclaimed his love for Celedon-Becerra, but also said he did something "stupid" because he found out she cheated on him, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
"I've never heard of an affair. This is new to us. I don't know if it's true," Reyes said.
She said Celedon-Becerra always appeared to be dedicated to her family and a loving mother to her four children, who are now in the care of relatives.
"From the outside, they looked like a very perfect family," Reyes said. "But again, we never know what goes on inside the house."
Chavez was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a charge of murder.