Police release video after pregnant woman's murder at southwest Houston strip club

HOUSTON

The strip center is packed with surveillance video, and homicide detectives are hoping someone recognizes the person of interest who was seen leaving the Eclipse Gentleman's Club on South Gessner after the pregnant worker's murder.

Investigators are calling the man in a camouflage ball cap and dark clothing the person of interest in the brutal murder of Maria Lucrecia.

The 27-year-old woman was five months pregnant and working at Eclipse Gentleman'S Club as a cleaning lady Saturday afternoon when she was viciously strangled and beaten to death by the unknown suspect.

"We believe she was first assaulted at the door," said Richard Bolton with the Houston Police Department.

Investigators say Lucrecia's attacker killed her in the lobby of the club, took about $1,000 from a register and broke a window of an office in an attempt to steal from a safe before he walked out a back door.

Surveillance cameras from several neighboring businesses picked up images of the man.

"He exits the back door, Kim's Spa's video picked him up, the Game Room video picks him up walking by," Bolton said.

Detectives say pawn shop cameras also spotted the man walking by just moments before Lucrecia's worried husband, five-year-old son and the club's general manager entered the club and found her body. They say the family's devastated.

"Can you imagine you looking for your loved one, walking into wherever it may be -- you know into your own home -- and finding your loved one laying beaten to death on the floor, beaten and strangled to death on whatever floor it may be? Can you imagine how that 5-year-old child feels to this day?" Bolton said.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.

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