Christopher Maya: 'Excited' killer allegedly brags about shooting Texas mom Michelle Nakaza in face
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
EL PASO, TEXAS: Christopher Paul Maya, 34, arrested and charged in connection with the disappearance and murder of Michelle Morales-Nakaza, 32, a mother of three from Texas was allegedly 'excited' about shooting her. One witness revealed to investigators that Maya and Morales were in a 'toxic' relationship for years.
Morales-Nakaza was reported missing by her mother on March 31 after the family stopped hearing from her. Her body was later found on April 10 in the desert in the Red Sands area of El Paso County.
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Maya told a witness on multiple occasions that he was going to 'kill her'
Law&Crime citing a court affidavit reported that Maya had allegedly told a witness on multiple occasions that he was going to “kill her.” The witness as per the documents also claimed that Maya had been “excited” about shooting Morales-Nakaza in the face and had allegedly confessed to him that he killed her.
The affidavit states that Maya is believed to have murdered Morales-Nakaza and used her white Toyota Camry to transport her body to Red Sands, where it was dumped. Maya as per police was tracked down and arrested by US Marshals in a parking lot outside the Walmart Supercenter in El Paso on April 14. He remains behind bars at the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $1 million bond.
'Part of her face was blown off'
The case unfolded after one woman reported that a friend, a first witness in the case, told her about Maya and the murder case on April 8. Later as the detectives met with 'Witness 1' he revealed to have been the defendant's friend. The witness further told investigators that Maya had asked him for help a few nights before to remove surveillance cameras outside a residence which he refused suspecting foul play. Just a few days later the witness saw a missing flyer of the decedent on social media which made him more suspicious, the report mentioned.
According to the account Maya allegedly gave, he shot the victim once in the face and twice in the chest after presuming she had taken his wallet, which he claimed was gone when he awoke in a white Toyota Camry. The witness described Maya as “excited about shooting Morales-Nakaza and got more excited when he told the 'Witness 1' that part of her face was blown off from the shot,” documents said.
Maya then revealed what he did next with the body. “The DEFENDANT then told 'Witness 1' that he got rid of her body, the car, his gun, and his personal cell phone in an unknown desert location,” the affidavit said. “Witness 1 stated he felt he needed to tell someone about the DEFENDANT’s confession to him, so he told his friend who called the police.”
Maya dumped Morales-Nakaza’s body wrapped in a blue tarp
The authorities then verified Witness 1's claims by contrasting them with the information given by a man "Witness 2," who claimed Maya was the source of the information. Witness 2 alleged that Maya had dumped Morales-Nakaza’s body wrapped in a blue tarp in Red Sands and that before confessing to the murder, he had been seen with a white Toyota Camry that had blood on multiple areas of the vehicle and weeds and dirt inside.
'She has 3 beautiful children and a family that loves her very much'
Investigators found the information provided by Witness 1 and Witness 2 to be credible, as their stories were consistent with each other and matched the physical evidence located by investigators. It is not known whether the witnesses knew each other.
Morales-Nakaza’s mother, Roni Espino had made a desperate plea on Facebook for help in finding her daughter, calling the situation “any parent’s worst nightmare,” just a day before Morales was found dead. “Please anyone help me bring my daughter home, she has 3 beautiful children and a family that loves her very much.”