UMVA has learned that a suspected serial killer in Texas has been accused of striking earlier than expected, with a chilling six-year gap between murder charges, leaving investigators to wonder if there are more victims.
The suspect, a 26-year-old Mexican national, allegedly strangled two women in the Austin area in 2018 and 2024, and is now accused of shooting two more women in 2025, with one of the victims fighting back and swiping her attacker's cellphone. The brazen move helped authorities catch the suspect, who was arrested this week.
Criminal profiler John Kelly is sounding the alarm, saying the suspect's alleged age at the time of the first murder is a disturbing red flag. "The rub for me is that he is accused of killing Alba Jenisse Aviles-Marti when he was only about 18 years old," Kelly said. "We usually never find out who the first victims really were. I just wonder how many this guy has killed with his homicidal anger towards women over the years?"
Historically, most serial killers are older when they evolve into murderers, making the suspect's alleged early start all the more alarming. Investigators are now re-examining past cases for potential connections to the suspect, who has ties to Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Hidalgo County.
Homicide detective Chris Anderson is urging anyone with additional information on the suspect to come forward, saying, "We believe that there is a strong likelihood that Benitez is responsible for further acts of extreme violence." The suspect has not yet entered a plea, but authorities say they don't believe his claims of self-defense in all four cases.
The case has sparked widespread concern, with many wondering how the suspect was able to evade capture for so long. As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the suspect's alleged actions have left a trail of fear and uncertainty in their wake.
Details of the suspect's alleged crimes are still emerging, but one thing is certain: the case has left investigators with more questions than answers. How many victims are there? What drove the suspect to commit such heinous crimes? And how can the community prevent such tragedies from happening again?
