Tx. Mom Vanished After Estranged Boyfriend Sends 'Goodbye' Text To His Family

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A body found in a Texas lake Sunday belonged to the estranged boyfriend of a 26-year-old mother who hasn't been seen since Feb. 5, a Grand Prarie police spokesman confirms to PEOPLE.

Police continued their search this week for the woman, Weltzin Garcia, who vanished earlier this month along with Alfonso Hernandez, the 28-year-old father of her two children, ages 3 and 6.

Before they disappeared, Hernandez sent a text message to his family, that simply read, "Goodbye," according to police.

Hernandez's body was found over the weekend by dive teams who'd been combing Dallas' White Rock Lake for the pair, police say.

Authorities found Hernandez's car at the lake soon after the pair were reported missing.

The police spokesman tells PEOPLE Hernandez's phone was found in the car. Garcia's phone was recovered from Hernandez's pants pocket, according to investigators.

Results of an autopsy are still pending, but police said there were no obvious signs of trauma to Hernandez's body.

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Grand Prairie police confirmed to NBC 5 that there was a warrant out for Hernandez's arrest following a January domestic assault incident involving Garcia.

Garcia's twin, Atziry Garcia Mireles, spoke to the outlet on Monday morning, and said she believes her sister is still alive.

"I'm not gonna break down anymore," said Mireles, who is caring for the missing pair's kids. "I just need to be strong and brave for them, that's the only option I have right now."

Mireles said the youngest child believes that she is his mother.

"He's thinking I'm his mom, but he's little you know," she said. "He's calling me mommy every time so it's like very emotional for me, but I'm not gonna break down because I need to be strong for them and they need to know that everything is going to be okay."

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Mireles said Monday Hernandez has previously expressed suicidal thoughts, but she did not expect him to hurt himself.

"I still do not understand why he'd do that to his family, to his kids," she said. "We don't know why."

Family members also told NBC 5 that Garcia and Hernandez had relationship issues with Hernandez seeking treatment for anger management.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “home” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.