On Monday two girls found their older sister -- a freshman at St. Edward’s University -- stabbed to death inside the family's Northwest Austin home. Detectives later connected a man to the capital murder after he placed a call to APD's Homicide Tip Line.
People living at the Champion Forests subdivision in Northwest Austin are still in shock over the death of 18-year-old Virginia Garcia. The victim's neighbors are relieved a suspect is behind bars.
People describe the Champion's Forest subdivision in Northwest Austin as a quiet neighborhood. A Monday night murder disrupted the community.
Police said Garcia -- better known as "Jenny" -- was stabbed to death by 20-year old David Diaz Morales inside her home. Police charged Morales with her murder. Detectives believe he was infatuated with the St. Edward's University freshman. Police said Morales broke into the home and stabbed Garcia.
"We believe they did know each other. They had worked together some months back and they had mutual friends. It also appears that David Diaz had feelings for Jenny Garcia," Lt. Charles Black, with robbery & homicide, said.
Investigators believe Morales burglarized the home at around 2 p.m. Monday.
Garcia's younger sisters found her dead around 6 p.m. at their home on the 4700 block of Whispering Valley.
Investigators said Morales called the APD tip line posing as a concerned friend saying that he noticed the house. Police traced the call and went to David Diaz Morales's apartment.
"The person identified himself as David Diaz. He said he was watching the news, and that he had recognized Jenny Garcia's address, and he wanted to know what was going on," Black said.
After police questioned him some more he hung up.
Detectives traced the line, and said they found stolen jewelry from the victim's house.
"He agreed to come to the police station and did answer questions and offered explanations for his whereabouts and explanations for their relationship. But as they continued to investigate further, then we found that jewelry that had been stolen from Virginia Garcia's home was inside the apartment of David Diaz [Morales]," Black said.
Garcia's neighbors are glad police made an arrest.
"That is reassuring and we'll probably make people in the neighborhood much more secure," neighbor Belinn Higginbotham said.
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Man charged with student's murder
News 8 Austin's Antonio Castelan reports from Northwest Austin.
 
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Police charged Morales with capital murder. He's in jail without bond.
St. Edwards University has planned a memorial mass. The service starts at noon Thursday in the Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel. St. Edwards is also offering grief counseling for students.
The university asks anyone who would like to send condolences to Garcia's family, to do so in care of Sister Ann Francis Monedero, assistant director of Campus Ministry, Campus Mailbox 1023, St. Edward's University, 3001 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704.
