RICHMOND, Texas — An accused killer has been found dead days after his wife’s body was found in their Richmond home. Now, the couple’s 2-year-old daughter in Colombia will grow up without either parent.
Jhon Venegas Romero had been the target of a manhunt since Monday when Fort Bend County Sheriff’s deputies found Anyi Montealegre Izquierdo, 23, stabbed to death inside the couple’s mobile home on FM 762.
Editor’s note: The above video aired before Romero was found.
On Monday evening, investigators got a tip that Romero had been spotted in the 2200 block of Richmond Street in Needville. SWAT team members, a helicopter and K9s searched 17 acres of a wooded area. They found the suspect’s car but there was no sign of him.
Friday morning, FBCSO was called about a man found hanging from a tree on Jeske Road in Needville. They’ve tentatively identified him as Romero based on tattoos, a passport and clothing he was seen wearing in surveillance video.
“We are conducting a thorough review to ensure all procedures are followed and to rule out foul play, however, at this time, this appears to be a suicide,” Sheriff Eric Fagan said. “Our thoughts remain with the families impacted by this tragic situation.”
Izquierdo’s family members told us Wednesday that her husband spent his entire life living in the jungle in his native Colombia and could easily survive in rural areas. They were worried he might hurt someone else if he wasn’t captured.
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Her cousins said they tried to intervene several times because the couple fought constantly after they moved to the U.S. about a year ago.
“Eran muchas peleas,” a cousin said.
They said Romero tried to kill her when they were living in Colombia.
“Ya le había hecho un intento de homicidio,” a cousin told us.
The cousins said Izquierdo refused to leave him and moved with him to the U.S. with hopes of raising money for their family back home and the toddler they left behind.
Now, they’re left to mourn the young woman who they said was full of dreams and kindness.
