Details surface in teens death
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New details about April Ann Repka’s 1991 death are surfacing.
The 19-year-old Victoria woman was stabbed repeatedly with a large white knife, according to a Texas Ranger’s sworn affidavit.
And the alleged killer – Carlos Zuniga Jr., 37 – was a friend.
To understand this cold case flipped on its head, step back 17 years.
On June 16, 1991, just two weeks after graduating from high school, Repka told her dad she was going to play music at a local dance center.
She never did.
Repka borrowed her grandmother’s car, which was loaded with guitars and clothes. A male friend accompanied her.
The following story is from Texas Ranger Ray Ramon’s sworn affidavit.
Ramon asked that the friend, who accompanied Repka in the car, remain anonymous. He is a lead witness, Ramon said.
Murder over money?
Repka and her friend drove to Robstown to visit Zuniga, the man now charged with capital murder in her death.
Zuniga asked to be driven to Alice.
Once there, Repka reached underneath her seat. The money she’d stashed in a can was gone.
Repka blamed Zuniga and the two argued. Zuniga, 20 at the time, told the teen he’d repay her but that he’d need to visit a store to do so.
The friend sat in the back seat.
Instead of driving to a store, Zuniga drove to outside the small town and down several roads.
He then turned into a field and said he needed to urinate.
But Zuniga walked to Repka’s door, pulled the teen outside and kicked her in the face. He then stabbed Repka in the chest, according to Ramon’s affidavit.
The friend ran from the car, but Zuniga caught him, beat him and then returned to Repka.
Zuniga then repeatedly stabbed Repka in the neck and chest, according to the affidavit.
Zuniga got into the car and told the friend to join him.
Zuniga said he’d kill the friend if he ever spoke about the incident.
A break in the case
Thirteen years later – on May 1, 2004 – a farmer found Repka’s remains in a field southwest of Alice and near County Road 462.
DNA gathered from Repka’s parents in Victoria helped investigators to identify the dead teen.
In 2007, the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office reopened the cold case.
Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor assigned Investigator Tony Daniel to the case. Daniel’s investigation led him to Mexico and Florida.
The friend, who’d remained silent all these years, was the man investigators sought. They found him in Florida using an alias.
“We pursued him as a suspect originally,” O’Connor said Friday. “He had an outstanding warrant in Florida for aggravated robbery.”
On June 2, just weeks ago, Victoria investigators extradited the friend to Victoria.
But was his story credible? How could a man who’d left for Mexico after a stabbing death – and then possibly committed crime in Florida and used an alias – be trusted?
Evidence corroborated the friend’s story, O’Connor said. And investigators believe him, he said.
Suddenly, law enforcement had a new suspect – Zuniga.
The hunt for Zuniga
U.S. Marshals, working with Victoria investigators and the Texas Rangers, arrested Zuniga on Tuesday outside his Corpus Christi home.
Zuniga is charged with capital murder and is locked inside the Nueces County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
“He never said a word,” O’Connor said. “He didn’t ask why he was being arrested. Even when they got him to the jail, he wouldn’t talk.”
O’Connor and Ramon said the friend is not a suspect.
“It seemed like this Zuniga had control over this guy,” Ramon said Friday. “When we talked to him it was obvious he was afraid of Zuniga.”
Zuniga will be tried in Jim Wells County – where it’s believed Repka was killed.
O’Connor said investigators are poring over other cold cases, too.
As for the friend who kept quiet for 17 years?
“He’s going to be a key witness,” O’Connor said.
Gabe Semenza is the Public Service Editor for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6519 or gsemenza@vicad.com.
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Comments
Perhaps the "witness" is covering his/her tail as to their involvment. I hope immunity was not given.
June 29, 2008 at 5:40 a.m.DEATH before Dishonor. Whether you are twenty or two hundred.
June 28, 2008 at 5:57 p.m.I also hope the guy who murdered her gets at least real life but I would prefer the death penalty.
June 28, 2008 at 5:28 p.m.It's easy to say what you believe you would do until you are faced with such a decision. I would like to believe I too would have stood up to him & called the police but I don't honestly know what I would have done. Wonder if his parents played any part in his running off to Mexico? He was a scared kid who was probably following his parents advice.
I feel for the family of the young girl & I am happy they are finally going to get some closure.
June 28, 2008 at 5:26 p.m.Well I guess I was just reared different. No, I know I was.
June 28, 2008 at 5:07 p.m.I dunno...I think if I was 20 yrs old and saw some guy brutally kill a girl & then threaten to kill me I may run away & change my name too (I've threatened to for a lot less). It's a shame though that after he was safe he didn't place an anonymous call to the police. I am impressed with the SO for such a speedy investigation on such an old cold case.
June 28, 2008 at 4:59 p.m.
June 28, 2008 at 4:51 p.m.This murderer is a loathsome piece of cow dung. However the "friend" is just a plain--coward.
To me personally I think he may not be the best believable witness that a jury will believe. I know I would have my doubts. I hope they come up with more evidence to convict this man because of what I've heard, he may walk free. They both seem guilty and both should be imprisoned.
June 28, 2008 at 12:31 p.m.While this "witness" may not be the best example of an upstanding, law abiding citizen...his reasons for leaving the state and changing his name could have more to do with fear. If you witnessed a murder and then feared you could be next if you talked about it, might an option be the get as far away as possible and change your name? Maybe!
June 28, 2008 at 9:53 a.m.After 17 years the canary started to sing. I am so glad this family has gotten closure in this case. Good job SO.
June 28, 2008 at 8:52 a.m.