A Texas woman accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter was captured in Mexico on Saturday, August 12, 2026, after nearly 30 years on the run. Maria Narez, 48, disappeared before she could face trial on a capital murder charge dating back to 1997.

Narez was originally arrested in Tarrant County, Texas, in 1996 in connection with the death of her daughter, Kasandra L. White. Records obtained by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth allege that Narez fatally assaulted Kasandra by shaking her, striking her with an unidentified object, and throwing her against a wall.

A grand jury indicted Narez on a capital murder charge in April 1997, and prosecutors announced they were ready for trial. However, before the case could proceed, Narez fled and remained a fugitive for decades.

Court records show a judge had lowered her bail from $500,000 to $25,000 before she stopped responding and fled to Mexico. The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office stated that they never gave up on bringing Narez back to face the charges and answer for her daughter's death.

Her capture was the result of a joint international law enforcement effort involving the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office and U.S. Marshals. Narez was taken into custody in Mexico, ending a long-standing search.

Sources