Suspected Texas killer is an illegal from Mexico accused in rash of 'extreme violence' against women

"We believe that there is a strong likelihood that Benitez is responsible for further acts of extreme violence," Austin Police Detective Chris Anderson said at a news briefing.

He was arrested on April 27 in the Dallas area by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, Anderson said.

He said Benitez-Gonzalez may have interacted with more potential victims in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Hidalgo County.

"He has a 2018 case, and he has a 2024 case," Anderson said. "People who commit crimes of this nature, with the very distinct MO, they usually don't take a break. Not for six years."

Austin police found Rivera dead on June 21, 2024, after a resident called 911 to report seeing a body in a vacant home on Metcalfe Road. She had been beaten and strangled, police said.

Then in November and December 2025, two women survived shooting incidents, Anderson said.

One of them fought back and managed to wrestle her attacker's phone away, he added. Ballistic evidence linked her shooting to the other victim, and ultimately to Benitez-Gonzalez in Dallas.

Anderson and another detective interrogated him.

Anyone with information that may be of value to investigators is asked to call the Austin Police Homicide unit at 512-974-8477 or Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477.