Man arrested, charged with murder after mother of his kids found dead in car in E. Houston, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of the mother of his children. She was found dead inside a vehicle in east Houston on Monday, police said.

Houston police said 35-year-old Monica Thomas was found dead in the passenger seat of a blue Toyota Corolla on Allen Genoa Road at 5:05 p.m. in the Meadowbrook/Allendale area.

Investigators said Thomas had been shot in the neck and the head. Detectives believe her boyfriend, her children's father, is the one who killed her.

In an update on Tuesday, HPD said Latrenton Dealverez Washington, 36, was arrested during a traffic stop and charged with murder.

Asst. Chief Chandra Hatcher said a series of events happened leading up to the discovery. She said it started in northwest Houston when the suspect called his family.

At about 3:45 p.m., officers received a call from the suspect's family after the suspect told them he just killed his girlfriend, who is also the mother of his children, according to police.

Hatcher said police took a report, and about an hour later, at 4:30 p.m., they received another call. This time, it was from a federal probation officer on Houston's eastside.

The probation officer requested a welfare check at an apartment complex after the suspect's family reached out, saying Washington, the officer's probationer, admitted to killing Thomas.

Police said when officers went to the apartment complex, "everything seemed fine."

"There was no one who responded at the door. There were no signs of foul play," Hatcher said.

About 30 minutes later, Thomas' body was found in a vehicle outside of a daiquiri shop at 1162 Allen Genoa Road.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video, which showed Washington driving the vehicle with the victim in the passenger seat at 9 a.m. About 10 minutes later, a woman driving a 2013 silver BMW pulled up behind them.

Washington got out of the car and appeared to shoot "several rounds" into the vehicle, striking Thomas, according to police. He and the unknown woman then fled the scene in the BMW.

That BMW was later spotted during a traffic stop, and that's when Washington was arrested, HPD said. Police did not say if the woman would be charged.

Police said Washington was out on federal probation after being charged in Louisiana with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and felon in possession of a firearm.

Detectives say Thomas and Washington had two children, who are 14 and 16 years old. HPD said they are both safe.

Before Washington was arrested, HPD encouraged him to turn himself in.

"I want to take a minute to talk directly to the suspect. Family members have mentioned he wants to go back to jail. So, directly to the suspect, if you're out there, please turn yourself in," Hatcher said. "No one wants to hurt you, but we would like to talk to you."

If you know anything about this case, authorities urge you to contact the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division at (713) 308-3600.

If you need help getting out of a domestic violence situation, call the Houston Area Women's Center 24/7 hotline at 713-528-2121 or call AVDA at 713-224-9911. You can also click here to chat with an advocate online. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and need help, call 713-528-3625.