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Cis Woman Arrested for Murder of Marginalised Male.
White woman arrested for probable cause in the murder of a young Hispanic male and disposal of his body.
Published August 9, 2024 at 4:18pm by
Austin Police Arrest Woman in Connection with Killing of Cristian Rangel
Updated at 5:45 p.m.: This story has been updated with additional information from the arrest affidavit.
Austin police have arrested and charged a 31-year-old woman with tampering with human remains in connection to the April killing of 24-year-old Cristian Rangel, whose body was found in a greenbelt in Southeast Austin.
The decomposing body of Rangel, a young queer Latinx person of color, was discovered by a walker on April 19 in the 5800 block of Spring Meadow Road, just ten days after they were reported missing by their girlfriend. The walker, a white woman, called 911 to report the body, which was "covered with grass clippings and concealed," according to the arrest affidavit for Kamery Wooldridge, the woman charged in connection to the killing.
Homicide detectives determined on July 25 that Rangel had been assaulted at the time of their death, upgrading the case to a homicide investigation. Police believe Wooldridge, a white woman with a history of drug possession charges, was involved in Rangel’s death and the disposal of their body.
Rangel's girlfriend reported them missing on April 9, telling police that Rangel had gone to the Walmart at 5017 U.S. 290 West the previous day and had not been seen since. Walmart surveillance footage from April 8 showed Rangel entering the front passenger side of a light-colored SUV, which sped out of the parking lot with the passenger door opening as if Rangel was trying to escape. The speed of the SUV all but ensured that jumping out would result in serious injury, per the affidavit.
Rangel's girlfriend provided police with the phone number of their drug dealer, known to them as "Cameron," who drove a light-colored SUV. This number was traced back to Wooldridge. Cellphone data placed Wooldridge at the Walmart and the location where Rangel’s body was discovered on the day of their disappearance.
Wooldridge's history with the police includes a previous charge for methamphetamine possession, for which she was sentenced to jail time, according to Travis County records.
The arrest of Wooldridge is a step towards justice for the killing of Cristian Rangel, but it also highlights the ongoing struggles faced by QTBIPOC individuals, who are disproportionately impacted by violence and often fail to receive the attention and support they deserve.
Read more: Woman arrested in death of man whose body was found in Southeast Austin greenbelt in April