Who is Oscar Sanchez Garcia? Alleged serial killer arrested for stabbing murders of three women in Dallas
DALLAS, TEXAS: The Dallas Police Department announced on Wednesday, July 19 that a significant breakthrough has been made in the investigation into the deaths of three women who were found with stab wounds in empty fields in the Oak Cliff area near the Trinity River. An alleged serial killer has since been taken into custody.
Who is Oscar Sanchez Garcia?
Oscar Sanchez Garcia, 25, was arrested in connection with the heinous crimes and now faces three counts of murder. The authorities revealed that Garcia was identified as the prime suspect through evidence gathered by diligent detectives during their preliminary investigation of the three homicides. However, further details regarding his connection to the cases have not been released as the investigations are still ongoing.
Who were Oscar Sanchez Garcia's victims?
The first victim, 60-year-old Kimberly Robinson, was discovered on April 22, 2023, in the 200 block of Santa Fe Avenue, near the intersection of North Corinth Street Road and East Clarendon Drive in southern Dallas. Tragically, two months later, on June 22, the lifeless body of 25-year-old Cherish Gibson was found in the exact same location. Gibson had last been seen near an adult bookstore on Harry Hines Boulevard, prompting Dallas police to pull surveillance video from the store after Gibson's phone pinged outside the establishment. The most recent discovery occurred on July 15 when the body of another unidentified woman was found in a field less than five miles away from the scenes of the first two victims. Though officials are still working to identify her, it is believed that she suffered the same fate as Robinson and Gibson.
The series of murders has caused immense grief and fear in the community, especially among those who knew the victims. Janetria Oliver, the daughter of Kimberly Robinson, expressed relief and gratitude that the suspect has been apprehended. She told WFAA, "My mother did not deserve that, and I’m so glad that he’s off the streets where he won’t be able to hurt anyone else. I’ve also been praying for the other families involved. No one deserves for their life to be cut short like that, and we pray that full justice is served.”
Possible connection to sex work
Dallas police had been investigating the possibility of a connection between the three deaths and revealed on July 18 that two of the victims were involved in sex work. This revelation has brought attention to the dangers faced by individuals engaged in sex work and the violence they often encounter. Advocates and experts have pointed out that sex workers are often targeted for violence due to their marginalized status, making them vulnerable to exploitation and harm.
The arrest of Garcia follows a pattern of several suspected serial killers being apprehended in recent months, such as New York architect Rex Heuermann, who has been charged in the Gilgo Beach murders. This has sparked discussions and debates surrounding sex work and the urgent need to address violence against those who engage in such work. Gillian Branstetter from the ACLU commented on the matter. "Sex workers are targets for violence, specifically because the people who are targeting them... know that they are marginalized," she told USA Today. Branstetter emphasized the importance of recognizing the dehumanization that often occurs, leading to severe consequences for those involved.
Bekah Charleston, a sex trafficking survivor, also shed light on the dangers faced by sex workers. She stated, "When you dehumanize a person to the point that they become a commodity that means now you're just a product to someone that is to be paid for, used, and discarded... You don't know how many women I know that have been either murdered by their sex traffickers or by their buyers that purchase them."
Ongoing investigations
As the investigations into the murders continue, the Dallas Police Department urges anyone with information related to the cases to come forward and assist in the pursuit of justice. Detectives David Grubbs and Christopher Walton can be reached at 469-540-6377 or david.grubbsjr@dallaspolice.gov and 214-701-8453 or christopher.walton@dallaspolice.gov, respectively.