The family of Christelrose Angel Ramirez is devastated after her body was discovered in a barrel in the woods in Northwest Houston.
Ramirez, 41, was identified by loved ones following the grim discovery Wednesday. Court records show her boyfriend, Jesus Varela, is suspected of killing her.
KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel spoke with Ramirez’s family, who expressed deep sorrow and frustration that Varela faces multiple charges but not murder.
Her father, Ricardo Ramirez, was overcome with emotion as he described his pain. He said he wants justice for his daughter.
“Right now, I feel anger, I feel depressed, I feel, you know, like it doesn’t happen, it ain’t real,” he said. “I just cry every day. I cry in the morning, I cry at night.”
Ramirez’s father said Varela is accused of shooting his daughter before putting her lifeless body in a barrel and tossing it into the woods.
“They (investigators) said she was asleep and he shot her while she was asleep and then started bagging her up,” said Ramirez.
Varela, a Honduran National, is in the Harris County Jail with an ICE hold. He is not currently charged with murder, but authorities say he faces multiple criminal charges related to the case, including tampering with a human corpse, assault of a family member, and unlawful restraint.
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According to court records and statements made during a probable cause hearing, investigators allege Varela killed his girlfriend and then attempted to force his nephew to help dispose of her body and other evidence.
Officials said Varela allegedly asked the family member to help dispose her body and the mattress she had been lying on.
Court records further allege that Varela threatened and physically assaulted the family member when seeking help.
During the probable cause hearing, the court stated that Varela allegedly struck the family member in the chest with an open hand, grabbed the person by the shirt, and told them he had already killed one person and wanted to kill another.
Ramirez’s father said the nephew’s acquaintance alerted authorities. Varela was ultimately arrested over the weekend.
Police confirmed that a body was recovered Wednesday, Dec. 10, in northwest Houston near Ella and Greens Road. Family members confirmed the body was Ramirez.
Ramirez’s aunt, Maggie Ramirez, said her niece was a kind person who helped others.
“She didn’t deserve this. She helped the whole world. She helped strangers,” Maggie said.
The family revealed that police had been called to the couple’s home in November for a domestic violence dispute, but Ramirez was the one arrested. They are hoping their daughter’s case will inspire those in domestic violence situations to speak up and seek help.
During the hearing, officials said Varela has been in Houston for nearly 20 years and works full-time.
A judge denied a request for a personal bond, citing public safety concerns. Varela’s bonds were set at $40,000 for the assault charge and $200,000 for the tampering charge, totaling $240,000.
Details about Varela’s immigration status have not yet been confirmed beyond the active ICE hold.