The Arlington Police Department has made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the death of Evila Yanes, whose lifeless body was discovered in the parking lot of a Sherwin Williams paint store along N. Cooper Street in October 2022. After an exhaustive and meticulous investigation, homicide detectives obtained an arrest warrant for 44-year-old Jose Luis Moreno Castaneda, charging him with one count of Murder.
Mr. Moreno Castaneda was already in police custody on unrelated charges when the arrest warrant was served. The arrest came after detectives uncovered crucial evidence pointing to his involvement in the death of Ms. Yanes. Through their painstaking inquiry, detectives revealed that the victim and Mr. Moreno Castaneda were embroiled in a lengthy dating relationship, characterized by a documented history of domestic violence.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Moreno Castaneda had a previous encounter with the law in March 2021 when he was arrested for assaulting Ms. Yanes by pouring gasoline on her body and face, resulting in bodily injury. Surveillance footage from a local business captured the couple together on October 29, 2022, just hours before Ms. Yanes's lifeless body was discovered.
The Arlington Police Department had publicly identified Mr. Moreno Castaneda as a person of interest in the case during a news conference in November 2022. They sought to locate him and question him regarding the murder. As a direct result of the extensive media coverage of the announcement, a member of the public provided a credible tip, leading to Mr. Moreno Castaneda's swift apprehension the following day on a probation violation warrant.
Despite Mr. Moreno Castaneda's refusal to cooperate and speak with detectives about the case, the dedicated Homicide Unit continued to work diligently on the investigation. Recently, they received crucial lab reports that revealed Mr. Moreno Castaneda's DNA was present on multiple items found at the crime scene.
Chief of Police Al Jones commended the community's collaboration with law enforcement, stating, "This is a prime example of how the community working with their police department can make a positive difference. With the help of our media partners and the public, we were able to quickly locate this individual. Then, thanks to the hard work and determination of our Homicide Unit, we were able to identify and collect the evidence needed to charge him with Murder. I’m extremely proud of this effort."
Following his arrest, Mr. Moreno Castaneda was booked into the Arlington City Jail and subsequently transferred to the Tarrant County Jail, where he will await further legal proceedings.
