Body of Houston man found decapitated, burned in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO, TX (KTRK) -- The decapitated body found in front of a burning dumpster in San Antonio has been identified as that of a Houston man.
The San Antonio Police Department says the victim was 43-year-old Javier Soto. For two years, Soto called Houston home, according to a friend. His last known address is listed as an apartment on Club Creek in southwest Houston, but Soto was in San Antonio last weekend where he died. The killer sent a brutal message.
In the pouring rain just after midnight Sunday, neighbors spotted fire near a dumpster at an apartment complex at 2303 Goliad Road on the city's southeast side. A closer look revealed a headless and handless body. The killer severed them and then set the body on fire. A tattoo of the name "Javier" posted on social media Tuesday helped investigators make an identification. On Wednesday, Soto's name was released.
A friend of the victim tells Eyewitness News his family lives in Puerto Rico. He was recently in a serious motorcycle accident in Houston. She described him as "nice" and therefore, the circumstances around his murder are "surprising." She and another friend contacted by Eyewitness News declined to be interviewed, in part, because of the brutality.
No other details have been released by San Antonio police about the investigation.
A reward up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (210)224-STOP.
