CARROLLTON, Texas - A 23-year-old Mexican national has been charged with murder after police found his wife dead with a severe throat wound inside a Carrollton apartment, according to an arrest affidavit.
Francisco Ricardo Mendez-Marin is accused of killing 20-year-old Karla Miranda Rangel during the early morning hours of March 18, 2026, at the Country Club Apartments in the 1700 block of Metrocrest Drive.
Carrollton police officers were dispatched to the apartment complex at approximately 4:38 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hearing someone yelling for help and sounds of wood breaking inside an apartment.
Officers initially entered Apartment No. 254 with the residents' permission but found no one in distress.
Officer Donovan then stepped onto the apartment's balcony and looked into the neighboring balcony for Apartment No. 255. From that vantage point, he saw a woman later identified as Rangel lying in a pool of blood with what appeared to be a severe injury to her throat. He reported that she was not breathing.
As additional officers entered Apartment No. 255, they encountered Mendez-Marin walking down the stairs from the apartment. Another man, identified as Luis Garcia, was found inside.
Both men were detained while investigators processed the scene.
According to the affidavit, Officer Torres advised Mendez-Marin of his Miranda rights in Spanish. Mendez-Marin invoked his right to an attorney and declined to answer questions.
Investigators observed blood on Mendez-Marin's clothing and body. During a search, officers recovered a bloody pocketknife and a razor blade from his pants pocket.
Detective Vazquez later observed dried blood on Mendez-Marin, along with scratches on his arms, throat and chest while he was being booked into the Carrollton City Jail.
Garcia told investigators he had been asleep in his bedroom and neither saw nor heard the attack. Detectives reported they found no injuries, blood or other evidence indicating Garcia was involved.
A search warrant executed at the apartment led investigators to discover a marriage license dated Feb. 26, 2026, identifying Rangel and Mendez-Marin as husband and wife.
Investigators also reviewed Officer Torres' body camera footage, in which Mendez-Marin allegedly stated in Spanish, "Yo no hice nada malo," meaning, "I didn't do anything wrong," and "Me obligaron hacerlo," which translates to, "They forced me to do it."
Detectives believe Rangel's fatal injuries were inflicted with a sharp object, such as the pocketknife recovered from Mendez-Marin.
Court records identify Mendez-Marin as a Mexican national who was in the United States illegally. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has requested that he be held for immigration proceedings.
Although a judge set Mendez-Marin's bond at $75,000, he remained in custody at the Dallas County Jail because of the immigration detainer.
Investigators said Mendez-Marin and Rangel met in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and both arrived in Texas in December 2025.
