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Suspect Arrested, Charged in 1989 Fatal Stabbing Case
July 6, 2010 - Charges have been filed against a suspect identified and arrested in the 1989 fatal stabbing of a man at 4700 Gulf Freeway.
The suspect, Cesar Manuel Cazares (H/m, DOB: 3-30-68) is charged with murder in the 337th State District Court. He is accused in the killing of Leonides Ponce, 27, of Houston.
HPD Homicide Division Cold Case Unit Sergeant M.K. Peters reported:
Mr. Ponce was found fatally stabbed in his vehicle on the side of the road in the 4700 block of the Gulf Freeway service road about 9 a.m. on June 23, 1989.
The initial homicide investigation focused on Cesar Cazares, but a case against him could not be made. Cazares had made threats against Ponce for dating his ex-girlfriend.
In 2009, there was a kidnapping/robbery investigation involving the Cazares family and investigators in the homicide and robbery divisions doing research on the case came across the 1989 murder investigation. The Cold Case Unit was contacted and submitted evidence from the 2009 and 1989 investigations to the Orchid-Cellmark lab for testing. DNA evidence identified Cazares as the suspect in Ponce's murder and charges were filed against him on July 2. Cazares surrendered to authorities a short time later.
JFC/VHS 7-7-10
Inc #056106589
For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.
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