West Richland Police identify second murder victim
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, April 25th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WEST RICHLAND – As the investigation continues into the events that unfolded Monday in West Richland, Police Chief Thomas Grego confirmed Wednesday the identity of the victim found inside Elias Huizar’s home as Angelica Santos, 17. Grego identified her as Huizar’s girlfriend and the mother of the child recovered Tuesday near Eugene, Oregon.
“Ms. Santos homicide is still under investigation and specific cause of death remains undetermined at this time pending an autopsy,” Grego said.
On Tuesday, Oregon State Police located suspected murderer and child abductor Elias Huizar driving southbound on Interstate 5. Troopers attempted to initiate a stop and the vehicle fled resulting in a high-speed pursuit during which Huizar exchanged gunfire with law enforcement. Huizar eventually crashed and took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. No law enforcement was injured.
The missing child, Roman Santos, 1, was removed from the vehicle and Grego said the West Richland Police Department is working with the appropriate agencies to reunite him with family members in the community.
Joining Grego at Wednesday morning’s news conference was Richland School District Superintendent Shelley Redinger. She confirmed that the other victim, Amber Rodriguez, 31, was a paraeducator at William Wiley Elementary School, where she worked since September 2022.
Rodriguez was killed by Huizar, her ex-husband, outside of the school she worked at Monday morning. Authorities confirmed community members, students and staff were present or nearby at the time of the murder.
Redinger said the district has counselors and social workers in the schools and at the district office for families. A couple of therapy dogs were also brought there.
Huizar was out of jail on conditional release for two pending felony matters, third-degree rape of a child and second-degree rape. Huizar’s total bail was $250,000. On Wednesday, Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Eisinger confirmed Santos was the victim of the third-degree rape of a child case and that there was a separate victim in the second-degree rape case. Eisinger said both cases will be closed due to the death of Huizar.
A former officer with the Yakima Police Department, Huizar left in late 2021 after being disciplined. He was also a former substitute teacher with the Richland School District from February 2022 to June 2023.
