The Mesquite Police Department has apprehended a suspect in connection with the death of 24-year-old Jennifer Mende Olascoaga, a missing teacher from the Dallas ISD in Texas.
Olascoaga was reported missing in early October, with her last sighting in late September. The discovery of her abandoned car on September 28, 2023, near the intersection of Milam Road and Lawson Road (in the Dallas-Kaufman County line), intensified the investigation.
During the search for the missing teacher, the Seagoville Police Department received forwarded text messages from a friend, hinting at the possibility of foul play in Olascoaga's disappearance. These messages are currently under scrutiny by investigators.
On October 12, 2023, a breakthrough occurred when the Seagoville Police Department found her remains in a wooded area near Interstate 20 and Lawson Road, located within the Mesquite city limits. The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed her identity and declared her death a homicide.
Following an extensive investigation, the Mesquite Police Department identified the alleged suspect as 34-year-old Sixto Banegas Matute of Balch Springs, Texas. Matute was taken into custody on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, and charged with murder.