Owen Leonardo Vilanova-Ardon Murdered Judy Walters: Cops

Owen Leonardo Vilanova-Ardon was arrested for capital murder in the death of Judy Walters. (Mug Photo: Houston Police Department)

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder and another suspect is wanted in connection with the killing of a 65-year-old grandmother in a carjacking, according to Houston, Texas police.

Authorities identified the juvenile defendant as Owen Leonardo Vilanova-Ardon, who now faces a capital murder case. Police say Vilanova-Ardon and another person pulled Judy Walters out of their white 2020 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross around 7:55 a.m. on February 14. Investigators determined that she had been shot and then hit by the stolen car.

Police said they responded to an exchange of gunfire in the apartment complex parking lot and found Walters with a gunshot wound. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

“Investigators learned of at least two suspects, described only as young, medium-skinned men wearing black bandanas, who shot Walters and dragged them from their vehicle,” officials said. “The suspects stole the vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, and used it to beat the woman as they fled the scene eastbound on St Mary’s Lane.”

According to the police, detectives arrested Vilanova-Ardon on Tuesday.

Surveillance footage showed the suspects may have waited at least eight hours for the victim, police officers said in a KTRK report. Police believe the couple targeted Walters. Authorities previously suspected that the woman who was killed knew the suspects.

The 65-year-old’s car was found in an empty garage at the abandoned Sugar Hill Golf Course at 11996 Bissonnet St., about 10 miles from the scene, police said.