DALLAS — Dallas police have made a second arrest in connection to the murder of a missing 54-year-old Duncanville woman, officials said.
Police said that 53-year-old Gloria Flores was arrested on April 29 and charged with murder. Police also arrested Clinton Smith, 65, on April 22 on a murder charge, who was reportedly a long-time friend of the victim.
Dallas police said officers responded to a call concerning a body found in the 3000 block of S. Ledbetter Drive around 2:30 p.m. on April 20. When officers arrived on scene, they found the victim wrapped in a plastic tarp on the side of the street.
Homicide detectives, along with Dallas Crime Scene and Dallas County Medical Examiner Office field agents, were called to process evidence.
On April 21, Dallas Police said the victim was identified as 54-year-old Juanita Rodriguez, and the medical examiner’s office determined she died from a gunshot wound.
Dallas Police said Rodriguez was first reported missing by her family to the Duncanville Police Department on Saturday, April 16.
On Monday, April 18, Dallas Police said Rodriguez’s vehicle was found abandoned on Navy Avenue.
In a press release Thursday, April 21, the Duncanville Police Department said they responded to a call concerning Rodriguez’s disappearance on April 18. The department said initially officers were “unable to substantiate circumstances that would indicate Ms. Rodriguez’s disappearance was anything but voluntary,” based on the information that was available to them at the time.
On Tuesday, April 19, Duncanville police said they received new details from the victim’s family and immediately submitted Rodriguez as a “Missing Person.”
Lucia Martinez is her younger sister. She said Rodriguez was a really happy person.
"Everyone was hoping that she was alive. The news was gonna [sic] be OK, we found her...," Martinez said. "I was expecting to take her back home alive to my mom, 'look mom, she's OK.' But I'm going to to take her not alive."
The family told WFAA that Rodriguez was renting a room from Smith.
"I guess we didn't really know his true colors, honestly," said Rodriguez's oldest son, Victor Guerra.
He said his mom had a rough life, but she never complained of any abuse.
"She was still holding onto the fact that there was little light at the end of the tunnel," cried Guerra.
"Even though we had financial troubles she still found a way to keep going and reach the end," he continued.
Now, after this sudden and unexpected end, Rodriguez will be buried in her hometown of McAllen.
"I tell mom, 'They shot her. They killed her.' She said, 'My daughter doesn't deserve this,'" Martinez said, and long pause followed.
"'No, mom. She didn't. And whoever did it is going to have to pay.' There's justice, and God forgive him, because we're not," she said.
Smith and Flores have both been booked into the Dallas County jail, and a magistrate will set their bond amounts.
If you have any information concerning the circumstances surrounding Rodriguez's disappearance and murder, Dallas police ask that you call Detective John Valdez at 214-671-3623.