BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – An autopsy conducted by the Benton County Coroner’s Office recently uncovered the cause of death for Angelica Santos, 17, and Amber Rodriguez, 31. Both individuals were tragically victims of Elias Huizar, whose actions have shocked the community.
According to Coroner William Leach, Santos was discovered with multiple stab wounds in Huizar’s residence, leading to her untimely death. Santos, a young mother, was found deceased on April 22, along with her one-year-old son Roman Santos, who was later abducted by Huizar.
Rodriguez, a beloved paraeducator at William Wiley Elementary School, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. She was also Huizar’s ex-wife and was fatally shot in front of the school on the same day as Santos. The timing of both deaths remains under investigation.
Prior to these devastating events, Huizar was facing charges for two counts of rape from February. Despite an impending court appearance, Huizar’s hearing was canceled. Following the murders, Huizar was charged with first-degree murder, sparking a nationwide manhunt for his capture.
The intense manhunt concluded tragically on I-5 near Eugene, Oregon, where Huizar ended his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Fortunately, Roman was located unharmed and safely returned to his family. The community continues to mourn the loss of Santos and Rodriguez, reflecting on the impact of the senseless violence that transpired.