Homicide Victim's Boyfriend in Police Custody
By: Lisa Carr
Updated: February 24, 2009
The investigation continues tonight into who killed a Lubbock mother and left her body in the back bedroom of her North Lubbock home. Police have named the victim's boyfriend as a "person of interest" in the case, and they say it's possible he could become a suspect. 48-year-old Tina Marie Sanchez was pronounced dead inside her home around 3:30 Sunday afternoon. Police say the home was in disarray, and Sanchez had several injuries that couldn't have been self-inflicted so, they started a homicide investigation. Within hours, they had gone to question Sanchez's boyfriend, 38-year-old Joe Angel Rangel. They ended up arresting him on an outstanding warrant for a probation issue on a previous domestic violence charge. Lieutenant Neal Barron says, Rangel is only a person of interest in the case, and they're still investigating other possible suspects. People who live near the homicide scene say they're scared.
Lt. Barron says, "I know there was a history of domestic violence between the two ... He (Joe Rangel) is not listed as a suspect at this point, but that may change." A neighbor near the crime scene says, "I'm not comfortable with something like that. I know it happens everywhere, but I'm not comfortable with that, and if I have to, I will get licensed for a gun because I'm not gonna put up with something like that."
Rangel remains in the Lubbock County Jail on those unrelated charges. Stay with KAMC 28 News for any updates on this case.
