Arlington police booked Mayra Velasquez on July 17 in connection with the 2012 stabbing death of Irasema Chavez, authorities said. Velasquez, 42, was taken into custody at the Tarrant County Corrections Center on a charge listed as “capital murder by terror threat/other felony,” according to police and county jail records. The arrest follows a genealogy lead developed with FBI assistance and earlier DNA phenotyping work.
The arrest is an allegation. Arlington police say they obtained a warrant after gathering additional evidence, but they have not publicly disclosed the specific proof that tied the genealogy lead to Velasquez. Officials also said no public statement has been made confirming a direct DNA match as of the latest releases; investigators said follow-up work produced probable cause for the warrant.
Mayra Velasquez arrest and charges
Booking records show Mayra Velasquez was booked July 17 at the Tarrant County Corrections Center on a charge described as “capital murder by terror threat/other felony.” Police have not released the affidavit or all details of the evidence that led to the warrant. Velasquez has worked locally as a real estate agent; state licensing records list an active Texas real estate license and an affiliation with Pure Realtors LLC at the time of reporting.
What investigators say about the 2012 killing of Irasema Chavez
Authorities say Irasema Chavez, 32, was found dead on Jan. 20, 2012, inside her second-floor apartment in the 2700 block of South Collins Street in Arlington. Investigators reported she had been stabbed roughly 100 times. Police recovered blood at the scene that did not belong to Chavez, and surveillance footage from the night before showed a person in baggy clothing and a hoodie climbing the stairs to Chavez’s unit, knocking and appearing to speak with someone before being allowed inside, according to local reports.
How DNA phenotyping and genetic genealogy produced leads
In 2016, Arlington police worked with Virginia-based Parabon NanoLabs to analyze unknown DNA collected at the scene. Parabon used DNA phenotyping to generate a composite image suggesting long brown hair and Latino ancestry; police released that composite publicly as part of the investigation. DNA phenotyping produces a probabilistic physical profile from genetic markers but does not itself identify a specific person.
After the case grew cold, Arlington detectives referred the investigation to the FBI’s Dallas Field Office in November 2024 for help using investigative genetic genealogy. That process uses DNA profiles from crime-scene evidence to search genealogical databases for distant relatives and build family trees that can point investigators toward potential suspects. Officials say investigative genetic genealogy produced a significant lead earlier in 2026 that prompted detectives to collect additional evidence and seek a warrant in the case.
Evidence disclosed and unanswered questions
Police have disclosed that genealogy work produced a lead and that investigators gathered more evidence before obtaining a warrant, but they have not detailed what items were tested or what specific comparisons were performed. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether a direct DNA comparison was obtained from Velasquez or whether forensic testing produced a definitive match that will be presented in court.
Outstanding questions include whether Velasquez and Chavez had any known connection, what physical or circumstantial evidence tied the lead to Velasquez, and what role the Parabon phenotyping played in narrowing suspects. Police have emphasized the genealogy result was an investigative lead that required corroboration through traditional detective work and forensic testing.
What comes next
Arlington police and the FBI scheduled a joint news conference to discuss the arrest. If prosecutors formally charge Velasquez, the case would move through arraignment and pretrial proceedings where evidence may be disclosed in filings or at hearings. As with any criminal matter, the arrest is an allegation and the accused is entitled to legal process; investigators and prosecutors would be expected to present the evidence used to obtain and support charges in court.
Background and short timeline
- Jan. 20, 2012 — Irasema Chavez found dead in her apartment on the 2700 block of South Collins Street; investigators report roughly 100 stab wounds.
- 2016 — Arlington police work with Parabon NanoLabs; DNA phenotyping produces a facial composite released by investigators.
- Case remains unsolved after public appeals and tips fail to identify a suspect.
- Nov. 2024 — Arlington police refer the investigation to the FBI’s Dallas Field Office for investigative genetic genealogy assistance.
- 2026 — Investigative genetic genealogy yields a significant lead; detectives gather additional evidence and obtain a warrant.
- July 17, 2026 — Mayra Velasquez is booked into Tarrant County Corrections Center on a charge listed as capital murder by terror threat/other felony.
Source
This report is based on Arlington Police statements and reporting from Fox News Digital. Original coverage: Fox News – Texas real estate agent suspected in nearly 100-stab cold case. The article preserves police statements that a genealogy lead prompted further investigation; authorities have not publicly confirmed a direct DNA match as of their latest releases.
Frequently asked questions
What evidence links Mayra Velasquez to the 2012 killing?
Authorities say they obtained a warrant after following a genealogy lead and collecting additional evidence, but they have not publicly disclosed the specific evidence used to connect the lead to Velasquez. Prosecutors and detectives may provide more detail in court filings or at the scheduled news conference.
How did investigative genetic genealogy and DNA phenotyping factor in the case?
Parabon NanoLabs used DNA phenotyping in 2016 to produce a composite image from unknown DNA recovered at the scene. Later, Arlington detectives referred the case to the FBI’s investigative genetic genealogy program, which officials say produced a significant lead that led detectives to gather further evidence and obtain a warrant.
Has a direct DNA match been confirmed publicly?
No. As of the latest public statements, authorities have not confirmed whether a direct DNA comparison was obtained or released. Officials describe the genealogy result as a lead that required follow-up investigation rather than a public declaration of a definitive DNA match.
