January 31, 2014 - Houston police are investigating the fatal beating of a woman found at 1200 Hardy Street about 4:45 a.m. on Jan. 17.

The victim, Alejandra D. Gueldner, 72, of Houston, suffered blunt force trauma and was transported to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead on Jan. 22.  

Photos of Ms. Gueldner, including ones taken of her the night of Jan. 17, and a map indicating where she was last seen and where she was found are attached to this news release.

HPD Homicide Division Officer M. Coleman reported:

About midnight on Jan. 17, Ms. Gueldner left work at the Hilton Americas at 1600 Lamar Street.  She is seen on surveillance video exiting the back door of the building (1600 Polk Street), walking eastbound on Polk Street, and then turning north on Avenida De Las Americas.  She can then be seen walking northbound on Avenida De Las Americas, crossing in front of the George R. Brown Convention Center, and then appearing to turn eastbound onto Rusk Street.  She is not seen again.

Gueldner normally rides the METRO 50 Harrisburg line to her home near Broadway in southeast Houston.  It is believed she either never made it to the bus stop at Texas Avenue and Hamilton Street or that she decided to walk home.  However, her whereabouts after turning onto Rusk Street are unknown at this time.

About 4:45 a.m., employees found Gueldner in front of their business in the 1200 block of Hardy Street.  They immediately called 911.  Gueldner was transported to an area hospital where it was determined she had been beaten and sexually assaulted.  

Surveillance video shows that between 3 a.m. to 3:30 a.m., there was foot traffic in the area.  A witness also described seeing her at the above location about 3:45 a.m.  At about 4:30 a.m., a light colored SUV is seen driving by and briefly stopping.  However, the driver did not contact police and it is unknown what connection, if any, he/she may have with the case.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

At 10 a.m. TODAY (Friday, Jan. 31), investigators from the HPD Homicide Division, together with Ms. Gueldner's family members, will be available in the HPD Media Briefing Room at 1200 Travis to answer questions about this case.

NOTE: REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS MUST ENTER THE BUILDING THROUGH THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE AT 1200 TRAVIS, GO THROUGH THE METAL DETECTORS AND PROVIDE VALID IDENTIFICATION BEFORE BEING ESCORTED TO THE MEDIA BRIEFING ROOM.