A 17-year-old girl who was previously the subject of an AMBER Alert has been charged with capital murder, along with her boyfriend. The victim was found dead in a park, and police believe he was set up by the couple. The girl has been arrested, but her boyfriend remains at large. Paul Livengood reported
According to the Garland police, the reason the victim, Arturo Pena, never made it back home is because he was set up by a 17-year-old girl named Natalie Navarro and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Yordy Martinez. This incident led to an AMBER Alert being issued for Navarro in September. Now, a Dallas County grand jury has indicted Navarro on a capital murder charge, specifically capital murder by terroristic threat. The indictment was received on Tuesday morning, as per online records. Martinez has also been indicted in the case, but he has been on the run since September and authorities have not been able to locate him.
Pena, a resident of Mesquite, was reported missing by the Dallas Police on August 27. Two days later, on August 29, his body was discovered in Garland’s Audubon Park with a gunshot wound. Following this, an AMBER Alert was issued by the Dallas police on September 1 for Navarro, identifying Martinez as the suspect. However, the alert was cancelled shortly after it was issued, as Navarro was found safely before it was sent out. By noon that same day, Garland police identified Navarro and Martinez as persons of interest in the murder of Pena. It was revealed that Navarro and Martinez had set him up, preventing him from returning home.
Navarro was eventually arrested in South Texas, but Martinez remains at large. Police believe that he has fled to Mexico, and they are working with federal law enforcement to reach out to Mexican authorities for assistance in apprehending him.
In an interview with WFAA, Pena’s mother expressed her grief and devastation in Spanish, which was translated into English. She stated, “They took my heart, they destroyed it, they threw it away, my life, not just my life, my son’s life too.” The interview with Pena’s mother can be watched in full on the WFAA website.
Overall, this tragic incident involves a 17-year-old girl who has been indicted for capital murder and her boyfriend who is currently a fugitive. The victim’s grieving mother has shared her heartbreak and the community is waiting for justice to be served..