Travis County Sheriff's Office Makes Arrest In 2018 Homicide Case

SOUTH AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Travis County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in a homicide of a man found dead in southeast Travis County last summer.

Just before 2:30 p.m. on July 11, 2018, sheriff's deputies were called to the 9800 block of Blocker Lane to investigate a suspicious odor. Officers found a a dead person off the roadway later identified as Johnny Cardenas, 31, of Austin.

On Tuesday, deputies arrested arrested Stephanie Marie Ray, 33, of Del Valle in connection to the homicide case. She has been charged her with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. "Detectives have evidence leading them to conclude the crime scene was cleaned and the decedent’s body removed in an effort to conceal the crime from law enforcement," the sheriff's office explained in a press advisory.

Cardenas was the father of two of Ray's children, according to the sheriff's office. Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges could be filed at a later date. Ray's bond has been set at $50,000, according to Travis County Jail records. A booking photo was unavailable.

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