Human remains recovered from an area in DeWitt County (Texas) have been positively identified by the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University.
Skeletal remains were discovered Feb. 23, 2021, just outside of the Nordhiem community, and after an exhaustive search in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers and Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, the decision was made to send the skeletal remains to Texas State University for forensic evaluation.
The forensic anthropology center at Texas State University said in a report dated March 24 the human remains have been positively identified as Maria Bernada Chavez de Vargas, 48, of San Salvador. DNA testing and physical examination of the remains confirmed their findings. The report also expressed no signs of foul play on the remains examined.
She reportedly last spoke to her family on Sept. 11, 2017, advising she was in Texas and expected to be in Houston within the next three to five days. When they did not hear from her, the family reported her as a missing person in their home country.
It is suspected de Vargas was in the process of being smuggled from San Salvador to Houston when she died.
The DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work with the Texas Rangers, Texas State University, DeWitt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 and the San Salvador government to ensure that the remains are returned back to her family.
“This is a sad closure for the family, however, I hope this brings closure for them and allows them to afford her a proper burial,” said Carl Bowen, DeWitt County Sheriff.
Republished courtesy of DeWitt County Sheriff