DHS reports that an undocumented immigrant is linked to two murders in Texas separated by six years.

Department of Homeland Security Announces Update on Texas Murders

Recent statements from the Department of Homeland Security revealed surprising news: two Texas women, previously thought to have been killed by an illegal immigrant, are actually alive.

Authorities identified 26-year-old Luis Fernando Benitez González, from Mexico, as a suspect in the murders of Alyssa Ann Rivera, 34, from Austin, and Alba Genis Avilez, 28, from Bastrop County. He was apprehended on April 27 in Dallas by U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement.

“This illegal alien from Mexico is accused of murdering two women in Texas,” commented DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Biss. “He faces further charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of dangerous drugs.”

Biss reflected on the tragic situation, stating, “Alyssa Ann Rivera and Alba Genis Aviles should still be alive.”

According to Travis County jail records, Benitez-González is currently held on first-degree murder charges along with two second-degree aggravated assault felonies. His record also includes previous drug possession incidents.

DNA evidence has linked him to both crimes. Aviles’ body was discovered on April 14, 2018, by a motorist. She was last seen at Club Caribe in Austin with an unidentified man. The investigation revealed she had been dragged, strangled, and assaulted, with mud on her clothing and physical signs of struggle.

Benitez-González claimed self-defense, insisting that he was attacked by Aviles during a drug-related argument. He stated he choked her for around seven minutes.

Rivera’s remains were uncovered by Austin police in an abandoned house on June 21, 2024. Her body showed signs of violence, including a cord wrapped around her neck and evidence of being dragged into the residence. Surveillance footage caught her with a male companion shortly before her death.

Detectives had previously reported that DNA evidence from both crime scenes indicated the involvement of the same suspect. “There are multiple sources of DNA at both scenes, but both cases involve the same suspect,” said APD Sgt. Nathan Sexton in 2024.

Despite being a suspect, Benitez-González managed to avoid detection due to a lack of arrest history. Following incidents in December 2025, where two separate shootings led to the deaths of two women weeks apart, authorities connected him to these violent acts. Reports indicated he was attempting to sell firearms to escape the country.