Sheriff’s deputies raid house linked towoman’s death

Bexar County sheriff’s SWAT officers raided a South Side home after investigators linked it to human remains found wrapped in a tarp and dumped by the side of the road about 9miles away, Sheriff Javier Salazar said Saturday.

Work crews picking up trash near W.W. White and Higdon roads made the grisly find Thursday; the raid occurred about 1 a.m. Saturday.

The remains have been identified as those of a female in her 30s or 40s who investigators believe has not been reported missing, Salazar said.

“We believe we know who she is,” he said, but the agency wasn’t ready to release a name.

Evidence was found where the remains were discovered that led to the search warrant served by SWAT on Friday in the 300 block of West Harlan Avenue. Deputies found about10people in the modest, one-story home, all of whom were brought in for questioning and later released.

“We cut everybody loose for now,” Salazar said. “I anticipate thatwe’ll be making probably several arrests in this case very soon.”

Salazar said he believes the deceased woman and the group of 10 “all knew each other.”

Though investigators had already been working the case for 36 hours, Salazar said officers will be working on the residence for most of the day and probablywell into the weekend.

Saturday afternoon, there was a mobile crime lab and cadaver dogs at the house, which dates back to 1952 and is about 1,000 square feet, according to Bexar County Appraisal District records.

“Although the property is not all that big, it is extensive,” Salazar said, noting that in the back of the residence, the garage area had been converted into several rooms.

There was also a secret bedroom where several “persons of interest” hid as the SWAT officers made their way through the house. Deputies had to move furniture to find a small doorway that led to the hidden room, Salazar

said.

“At this point we don’t know that that room has anything to do directly in relation to the homicide itself, but it certainly is cause for concern that somebody went to great pains to construct this extra room that was hidden from public view,” Salazar said.

Investigators also found of blood at the house.

“They went through some steps to try to conceal evidence of the crime,” Salazar said. “But we’ve got techniques that will help us uncover even blood that has been washed away.”

Salazar described the group of 10 as “transient” people who come and go from the residence, ranging in age from 20s to 40s. The people appear to be exploiting

evidence the owner of the home, an elderlyman who lives at the house, Salazar said, but the man is aware of the situation.

“I believe he knows exactly what’s going on here,” the sheriff said.

Anyone with information about comings and goings at the house, or who may have doorbell camera or security camera video showing people going in and out, should call the sheriff’s office at 210-335-6070, Salazar said.

“You may not have what you feel is strong evidence for us, but it may be just the missing puzzle piece thatwemight need to break a case wide open,” the sheriff said.