Carol Joan DeLeon (February 18, 1963 - June 3, 1981) was a young woman who disappeared from San Antonio, Texas on June 3, 1981. She was found murdered in Comal County, Texas on June 4, 1981 and she was identified in 2010. Her death may be tied to serial killings in the area.
On April 13, 2023, Larry West was charged with her murder.
Disappearance[]
Carol DeLeon was born on February 18, 1963 in Bexar County, Texas to Rodolfo De Leon and Ramona Vara. She resided in the West Avenue area of San Antonio and had graduated from Thomas Edison High School on May 28, 1981, just days prior to her death.
She was last believed to have attended a night club in San Antonio on June 3, 1981. She was never seen or heard from again.
Discovery and Identification[]
On June 4, 1981, the body of an unknown woman was located near Interstate 35 in Comal County, Texas. She was killed by six gunshot wounds to the head from a .25 caliber pistol and raped. Authorities took her fingerprints and looked at missing person's reports in the surrounding areas. After they failed to identify her, she was buried in Comal Cemetery in New Braunfels, Texas.
In 2009 or 2010, the victim was identified as Carol through DNA technology.
Investigation[]
Between 1976 and 1981, the Interstate 35 section of Texas experienced 22 murders of female and male hitchhikers and stranded motorists, leading to authorities to believe that a serial killer was involved. Carol is listed as a victim of the I-35 Murders. Other listed victims include Debra Jackson and Juanita Velazquez. As of 2022, only a small handful of the murders have been solved.
A photograph of Carol and a male subject was posted by investigators on the TXDPS website. Thanks to the public's assistance, the male subject was identified and is not considered a suspect by investigators.
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