San Antonio police disclosed details of a brutal murder that shocked the Southeast Side community. Manuel Mendez, 84, was lured to a property on Chickering Avenue under the pretense of renting space. Once inside, the suspects bound his hands and feet, covered his nose and mouth with tape and towels, and intentionally suffocated him. The affidavit notes Mendez pleaded for his life as the attack continued for roughly 30 minutes before he died.
Suspects and charges
Leidy Hernandez, 43, was booked into the Bexar County jail on Thursday, while 23‑year‑old Ulani Nunes, already in custody since July for a separate case, remains detained. Both women are charged with capital murder and are alleged to have been in a romantic relationship.
Investigation
The affidavit indicates the suspects first encountered Mendez at a local H‑E‑B store, then devised a plan to rob and kill him. Investigators recovered video showing the pair with Mendez before the murder and linked them to an unrelated robbery case involving an elderly landlord who was similarly tied up and robbed. That similarity raised suspicion and led to their arrest in connection with Mendez’s death.
Discovery of the body
Police found Mendez’s burning body in a ditch along Rigsby Avenue after a passerby reported a fire. The scene prompted a thorough investigation that uncovered the suffocation method and the suspects’ premeditated intent.
The case underscores the danger of violent crime targeting vulnerable seniors and highlights the ongoing efforts of Bexar County law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
