Arrest Made In Mom’s Stabbing Death

KPRC-TV—August 12th, 2009

A man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a woman who tried to save her baby during an attempted carjacking, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.

Harris County sheriff’s deputies said Timoteo Rios, 24, was arrested in Mexico on capital murder charges.

Detectives said Rios fatally stabbed Tina Davila, 39, in front of the Cricket cellular store on Uvalde Road near Wallisville Road in northeast Harris County on April 16, 2008.

Davila went to the store to pay a bill, officials said.

Investigators said Rios grabbed Davila’s keys and money. Surveillance video showed the two fighting, officials said.

Davila fought with Rios because her 4-month-old daughter was in the back seat, officials said.

Deputies said Rios and another man, Kennedy Escoto, escaped in a Ford Taurus after Davila was stabbed. They did not get away with Davila’s vehicle.

Davila’s daughter was not injured.

Eric Matt was married to Davila for eight years. The former high school sweethearts remained good friends even after their divorce.

He said the arrest comes with mixed feelings.

“Sadness because your mother — she can’t be replaced. Even getting justice is good because the man is not on the streets no more, but that don’t bring (the baby’s) mom back,” Matt said.

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia vowed to bring Rios back from Mexico.

“He tried to flee justice. He tried to flee justice by not just leaving the state of Texas or Harris County, he tried to leave the country,” Garcia said.

The Sheriff’s Office along with the FBI and the Houston Police Department were behind Rios’ arrest at his construction job in Mexico after receiving numerous tips. They also arrested Rios’ uncle, who was wanted for the murder of his ex-wife and was featured on the Wheel Of Justice in 2007. Investigators said the uncle shot his ex-wife in front of her seven children.

Investigators said Rios and Escoto were involved in other robberies and carjackings.

Officials declined to comment on Rios’ immigration status.

Investigators said it could take between 60 days and six months to get Rios and his uncle returned to the United States if extradition is waived.