Austin police arrested Daniel Ruiz, 30, on Feb. 22 in connection with the fatal stabbing of 27‑year‑old Maya Torres in the city's South Congress district, authorities said.
Background
Torres, a graphic designer who lived alone in a downtown loft, was discovered by a neighbor at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 20, after she failed to answer her phone. Emergency responders found her with multiple stab wounds to the abdomen and chest. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators learned that Torres and Ruiz had ended their three‑year relationship just weeks earlier, and friends reported a series of threatening text messages from Ruiz in the days leading up to the murder.
Detectives from the Austin Police Department’s homicide unit, aided by the Texas Department of Public Safety and FBI forensic analysts, began a city‑wide canvass for witnesses and surveillance footage. A discarded coffee cup recovered from a nearby café yielded DNA that matched Ruiz’s profile, a breakthrough that prompted a warrant for his arrest. Ruiz was located at a relative’s home in Pflugerville and taken into custody without incident.
The Charges
Ruiz has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, offenses that carry a potential life‑without‑parole sentence under Texas law. The charges were filed by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and the case will be prosecuted in Travis County District Court. Because the investigation is ongoing, the indictment lists the charges as “allegedly” stemming from a premeditated act, pending a grand‑jury review.
Key Takeaways
- Victim Maya Torres, 27, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in her South Congress loft on Feb. 20.
- Suspect Daniel Ruiz, 30, Torres’s ex‑boyfriend, was arrested on Feb. 22 after DNA from a coffee cup linked him to the crime scene.
- The homicide investigation involved the Austin Police Department, Texas DPS, and the FBI, illustrating a multi‑agency response to a violent crime in an urban setting.
What's Next
Ruiz’s first court appearance is scheduled for March 5, when a judge will set bail conditions and determine if a grand jury will issue an indictment. The prosecution has indicated that additional forensic evidence, including a recovered weapon and cellphone metadata, will be presented at the preliminary hearing. The victim’s family has been notified and will be offered victim‑impact statements should the case proceed to trial.