Rita, come home. Come home. >> Okay, we need you. >> With my heart's gone, I want to bring her home more than anybody else. >> I sat in the truck and I realized what I had just did. And I was scared. I I looked at her and I just couldn't believe what literally just happened. >> You know, sheing called me a weirdo. I punched her and I killed her mom. >> On March 20th, 2018, a worried mother called the police asking questions no parent ever wants to ask. >> Yeah. Hi. Um, I haven't seen or heard from my daughter for a couple of days. And I'm just wondering what the protocol is or what I need to do. Sure. You want me to care about her as? >> Her daughter was 34year-old Rita Gutierrez Garcia. And she knew this was completely unlike her. >> She's not young, but um, she has kids. >> Mhm. And so I'm just like and I know she was out drinking on Saturday with family and friends. Um then I've already asked them all if you know like >> if she's you know with any of them or if she's around >> um you know so I'm just like now I'm starting to get concerned because the fact that she does have her kids. >> Okay. Does she live here in Long Island? She does. Okay. So, that's I [music] mean that's what we would do is I'd put in a cop service if you have an officer call you since you have one available. >> Rita was a dedicated mother of three young boys and she wouldn't just abandon them. An officer was assigned to her case immediately and started looking into her last known whereabouts. The last people to see her were friends and cousins she'd been out drinking with at a Colorado speak easy around 2:00 a.m. on March 18th. But what made her disappearance more concerning was that she dialed 911 an hour later but hung up immediately after. When dispatch called her back, she didn't answer. That was the last time Rita would try to contact anyone. For the next few days, her family tried whatever they could to find her, but even after all the searching, there was no sign of Rita. Then the police turned to her boyfriend at the time, David. >> I want to bring her home more than anybody else. takes. I'm I'm I'm turning over every stone. So, I've I've come across a couple names and I've I'm I'm going to do whatever I can to help find this girl, right? >> So, I came across the name and I've just been re researching the out of it. And, you know, my brother owns a business, so we know how to look people's backgrounds up. >> So, all I've been doing is just looking at this guy's Facebook and finding friends that I have friends with him so we can collectively find who this guy knows in Llama. And I've I've established multiple connections throughout Texas throughout I I found his dad's house. I found I I looked at his I've been on his Facebook page every day and somebody liked his post that he of a post. There's so I have so much that I want to give you guys and tell you guys. It's just it's overwhelming right now. >> Well, let me ask you this, David. So, at this point, it's March 26. What's what's your theory on what what happened to Rita? What what do you think is going on right now based on everything that you know about the situation? >> From what I've heard and Facebook stories and people talking and posts and everything. >> Mhm. [clears throat] >> There's two things that really stick out and I either he killed her some you know >> who are we talking about? >> This Juan Figueroa Juan Figureroa he either grabbed her and did something with her that evening or he And I I feel like he has her in my heart. I believe and maybe it's just my little my little soul trying to be optimistic, but I truly feel like that that's why I'm I'm going crazy like >> researching the out of everything. And I found his like I said, I found his dad's house. I found the person who unliked and then unliked. Isn't that a little weird? like this guy's in some trouble and then you like his post that hasn't he hasn't been on there for months and months and suddenly he posts a picture of a puzzle piece of himself which Rita has a this is what struck me so strange and this is why I believe that she may still be alive because he put >> his his post is a puzzle piece. It's him as a puzzle piece and Rita has a puzzle piece right here >> on her back. So, if he didn't have her, I I I almost it's just too much of a a coincidence to me. Don't I mean, it may be like, "Hey, you're looking for me. This is a puzzle." But to me, I almost feel like that's that's like >> saying something. >> Yes. I I do. And and if he didn't know, like if he would have just got rid of her, I don't think he would have known, you know, that wouldn't have [music] been like that specific. So this is that's what I why I have some some hope because >> because [music] that just that I think that's a sign. >> And how did you come upon Juan Figueroa [music] as as your suspect so to speak? >> Um just uh being around the family during the searches I've you know I've my ears are open so I and I don't know who the lady was. I just overheard her talking to somebody else describing the situation because he was either bothering her at the bar or attempted to talk to her. >> Okay. >> And they had they knew who he was and I took it upon myself to go a little bit further. Okay. >> And um speaking to the officer, he more or less >> said this is a person of interest. >> Okay. because I know you guys can't really give specifics, but I know I'm smart enough to ask questions the way I where you answer yes or no, and I that gives me enough. Okay. >> So, the first time you heard that name was at a search party. Is that right? >> Yes. >> This might sound like a tangent, but David, working alone through his heartbreak, was on to something. Around the same time, David identified Juan Jose Figaroa Jr. as a suspect. He was pulled over during a traffic violation near the Mexico border. >> Uh, it's uh north of Denver. >> North of Denver. Yes. >> When did you leave? >> Uh, I left uh yesterday about 6:00 afternoon. >> Oh, okay. Good. Dude, what kind of work do you do? You go buy one or what say? >> One. >> What? >> I do like home remodel. >> Oh, construction like >> construction and stuff, which is why I got a truck. Use it for work. >> Cool. Cool. How long have you had it? >> Uh, I've had it for about four years now. >> Oh, wow. >> Okay. I just uh I just know my tags are just a little late. Yeah, just a little pricey right now. >> Yeah, I saw where it expired in 17. Yes, >> sir. >> Just uh it cost me like $350 to get the new license for the new stickers. >> Uhhuh. >> Just been struggling with that, but just been able to do >> So, you're coming down to see family? >> Yeah. >> Who all lives in Christ? >> Uh Svantes. Who? >> Servantes. Who's that last name? It's uh uh my mom's side. >> Oh, okay. >> I'm a Feroa, but I've never really met my dad. So, my dad's a Fa and he has some brothers there and I have a Willita down there, too. That's a FeroA. But mainly, I'm going down there to go see my Willita house because it's being remodeled and everything. >> Uhhuh. >> And over there. >> So, this is this is Cvantes side of the family or >> Yes. That I'm going to go to see >> to your Wita. She's a Cvantes. >> Yeah. Yeah, but she died and everything, but I'm just going to go see the house. >> Oh, okay. >> Might go do some work down there for my mom because she inherited the house cuz my my Wita died. My my uncle died. And >> I'm sorry to hear that, bro. >> It's It was been a It was a while ago. My Theo died about 3 years ago, cancer, pancreas, and uh my mom inherited the house. So, um figured I'd go down there, go check it out. Everything looks good. You know, I go do some remodeling work for my mom. Y >> Is your mom still living down there? Uh, no. She lives in Colorado. So that's why I'm having to come down here. And >> she lives in Longmont. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> From how this conversation was going, Figueroa just seemed like a normal guy trying to make something of his life. >> You married? >> Hell no. >> No. [laughter] >> No kids or nothing? >> No, sir. Just haven't been blessed yet. Just the way I look at it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, when it's time, it's time. >> Sir, you you said you're on probation. One. Uh, I'm on bond. >> You're out on bond? Okay. What'd you get arrested for? >> Uh, that was for um, it was uh, it was for lararseny. >> Lararseny? >> Yes. >> What happened? >> So, I just been fighting it right now. >> I've just been being accused of uh, supposedly that I stole 20 to $100,000. >> Oh, wow. >> And uh, it's it's stupid. >> Stole it from a company or what? a woman trying to say that I stole it from her >> like from her person. >> Yeah, she said that I stole like a diamond ring and like a lot of money from her and stuff. So, it's just something I've been fighting >> and uh so I've been out on bond for about almost a year now. >> Oh, okay. And outside of that lararseny charge, have you ever been inside of a jail? >> Have I outside of that? No. >> Outside of the offense that you've been fighting? >> No. >> Have you been inside of a jail any other time? >> No, sir. >> Never? No, >> it's very rare that I come across a Mexico cop. >> Oh, really? >> Well, yeah, cuz over down there it's just it's a bunch of like white people. >> There's no Mexos up there. >> I don't know. Maybe you see like >> No, everybody else stopped some coming from >> You'll see. You'll see two out of like out of a hundred, >> you know. >> Yeah. >> So, it's very rare. [clears throat] >> I just got new tires on that car and >> on this truck. >> Yeah. Yeah, I got an oil change, got a [ __ ] change and stuff, the oil and stuff. And uh and when I found out my plates when I found out I was late, there was a huge fine on it. >> It was $200, but then they bumped it up to like 400 or no, it's like 350. So, give me just a second. For some reason, it's not my system is not picking up Colorado stuff. It's not showing me a whole lot of Reddit. So, it's going to >> It's going to take me It's [laughter] going to take me a little bit. Let me just >> run everything. >> That's fine. Understand. It's been a nice drive, huh? Keep it clean. >> Yeah. Tried to. >> It's nice. I've always wanted to be a cop. >> Oh, yeah. >> Just >> What happened? >> I caught a stupid felony when I turned 21. >> Yeah. >> And that's what prevented me from being a cop. So, I just uh try to move on and just try to make better of it, really. What felony did you catch at 21? >> Uh, palm broker violation. >> Oh, what? >> Palm broker violation. >> What's that? >> Me and my sister were fighting and I I stole her camera and I pond it. >> Uhhuh. >> 25 bucks. >> Um, down there if you lie in Colorado, if you pond something and you lie about it, it's a felony. >> No. It used to be a felony. It used to be a misdemeanor six, but now it's a felony. Felony six. So, did you go to jail for that or what? >> Yeah. And then and then also around that time I went to school right here at Southwest Texas Junior College for one year. >> Where's that at? >> In the UAL and uh wanted to be a cop and that's where I was doing my police academy and stuff and I did one year went back home got in trouble hung out with some old friends and one of them was really throwing was carrying a gun and thought it'd be smart to rob somebody. >> Oh, really? So you were a part of that or what? I don't know. It was just wasn't I would had no part of it. I just bought them beer. You know, just turned 21. Pandeco, you know, I'm on spring break and wanted a drink. Bought them beer. Um, fortunately, they weren't old enough to buy they weren't old enough to drink. So, like we were able to, you know, we got they got so drunk that they thought it'd be smart to rob somebody with the gun. >> Damn. And because I knew about it and I didn't say nothing because I just never had to tell all my friend, you know, I never had to turn him in or anything. And so, um, I just never said anything about it. And then because I knew about it and I didn't say nothing, a week later, a cop came and talked to me about it. And I listen Becko listening to my mom. Tell him everything you want. Tell him everything so he can come clean. I did it. And my future lawyer was all like, "You shouldn't have to listen to your damn mom." you should have just not said because they wouldn't have nothing. So up and then ever since that ever happened, I just can't be a cop. So I have two years to be able to get that expun, not expuned, but try and get it sealed by a judge because in Colorado it's a 10 years. If you get uh charged with the felony, um you have to wait 10 years and you can't get in trouble in between that time. And I'm hoping to get this felony dropped that I'm on board for so I can go back to school and trade again. That's about it. Life story, huh? >> Hey, >> it's just cool. Like I wanted to be a cop here, but you know, cuz it was just cheaper and easier and everything. >> Yeah. >> Like I got my GED in like two weeks when it took me almost a whole year in Colorado. >> Yeah. stupid. >> Well, hey, everything works out for a reason. You know what I'm saying? Everything happens for a reason. >> I just believe God just wants me to go through some things in life before I can, you know, carry on that. >> I believe in that. Yeah, I believe in that. Okay. And so, this is your your truck, right? It's registered in your name. Okay. >> All right. >> My first truck, my first car, honestly, that I ever bought. Now, have you ever had any uh arrests for narcotics or marijuana or anything like that? >> Uh, probably when I was like a juvenile, but you can go through my drugs right now. >> What kind of drug offenses? >> Marijuana. >> Oh, that's it. >> How much? >> Eat your blood. >> That's it. Where was this at? >> Uh, it was in it was in Texas. It was in uh Crystal City a long time ago. But they dropped all that [ __ ] already. They let that [ __ ] go and then I had a drug offense when I was like 13 in Longmont >> and uh I just never uh just never got caught again. >> How old were you when you got arrested in Texas? >> Uh this was the recent one. It was like it was I was like 1920. So I'm sorry. So I did So I was in Crystal. Okay. when I was 15 and then I left and then when I wanted to start my squa and start GED again everything it was hard for me to get it in Colorado. I went to Crystal Crystal City and I started school again >> and it was just easier when I went back when I was 19. So, I went when I was 15. I came back to Colorado and then when things started getting serious, you know, with school and it was really harder down there because just everything is just so like, you know, you got to be pretty smart. You know, you got to be on your [ __ ] >> And uh so I was like, well, my mom was like, well, why don't you go to Crystal and we'll try to get your [ __ ] there because it's cheaper and it's easier. Like their education level is a lot cheaper or it's just more easier. So, I did. I went down there and got my GED in two weeks and started just going to school in Uvalde. Uh I did I did one year in criminal justice and uh you know came back home. Um but during that whole time so I got that joint before I started school and the guy who arrested me it was a county sheriff's out of Zala County right there. >> Mhm. >> He just cut me a break cut me some slack. He uh let me go and he dropped the charge. It was just a block. So but no I no I don't have no weed or anything like that. I don't have anything in that truck I'm not supposed to have. >> Now, in Longmont, you got arrested for marijuana also. >> Yeah. Long time ago, though. Long time ago. I was really All right. [sighs] And I can't believe you're traveling without a cell phone, man. >> That's crazy, man. I mean, >> well, yeah. Well, I mean, I don't know. I figured maybe somebody like you would probably stop by and be like, "Hey, everything okay?" Maybe not. [laughter] He's like, "No, I don't want to." >> I'm just saying, man, the way things are right now, I mean, >> a little nervous. >> You could run into uh, you know, there's bad people all over the place. >> That's why you think I got the pala in there. [laughter] >> I don't know. Yeah, you're right. But I was planning on um I was hoping when I get down in Crystal and if I need a little bit of, you know, I was planning on buying a little smartphone down there cuz I know I could get one down there for like 60 bucks or something at Walmart. >> I figured you would have done that before you left. >> Yeah. Well, >> the the road map was eight bucks, so I just did it that way. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I mean, I know how to read, so not that hard. Not that bad. >> All right, Juan, here's what's going to happen. You're going to receive a warning for the speed violation. Um, you're going to receive a citation for no driver's license, cuz an ID card is not a driver's license, and it tells you that on the back of your ID card. And, uh, just to let you know, you could be arrested for this offense. Did you know that? >> I did. You didn't know you could go to jail for operating motor vehicle without a driver's license? >> No, I just I just thought I would have been totally cool because it would be able to pull up that I had a permit. >> Yeah, >> cuz I do have a permit. >> It doesn't show that. >> Yeah, I do. I have a permit. And that's what really bummed me out because I had it. Like I literally had it. I went I went like I looked everywhere in my truck last night, this morning. I can't find it. So I know I looked at the gas station cuz I bought a pack of cigarados. I have a pack of cigaros in there that I bought before I left, you know, and down there in Colorado, they ain't going to sell you no cigars if you ain't got a valid ID. So, I mean, I had that I had it and that's the only one I don't have. And that's the one that they whole punched, you know, before I got that new one. And that new one is the ID [music] is the permit. >> Yeah. Have you been inside of a jail anywhere else in Texas? >> Uh, yeah. The one over there in Cristal just county. >> That's the only one. But it was only a one night. That's what I'm saying. For the blood and then they dropped they just let me go cuz told them I was going to go to school to be a cop and just like I don't want to see I don't want to see you go down like this way. So I want to give you a big break. I don't want to see you hanging out with these people anymore. And it sucks you know because my down there are just all you already know about all this stuff and you out there and stuff like that. It's all up there man. So, um, oh man, I made it and down in jail there one time and it was one day and he just threw it away. Like, I'm going to pretend it's never happened. I don't ever want to see you here again. Never saw me again. >> Figureroa had been fairly forthcoming, but the corporal was suspicious. >> I don't know what you're talking about other than that. Now that you brought it up, I did have 200 or $2,000 stolen out of my bedroom, and I made a police report about that. And that was the money that I got for my tuition. >> And this was in >> around where >> I was at the college and stole that much money. I stole like literally $2,000 out of my room and I made a report to the cop that was there on campus. >> Mhm. >> And uh [snorts] that was it. That was my money to get back home and uh never had any money. Um, I just ended up having my mom ended up wiring me some money to get back to the Gasa, but that's the only thing I could think of. >> Okay. >> Is there something I should hold up? >> No. >> This was when the officer asked him the main question. >> Are you planning on going to Mexico or >> No. Hell no. Not with all the [ __ ] going on down there. What's going on? >> Uh, all the murderers and stuff, all the killings, the cartels, like I don't want nothing to do with that. I had a friend who wanted me to come with him uh last year to help him drive to go to uh Tijuana. >> Mhm. >> Or no, I think it was Suarez and I was like, I going he's like, dude, he's all like your stays paid for, your food will be paid for, everything. Just help me drive >> to transport narcotics or what? No, it was just to drive because he was going down there because he likes to go out um they like to like like like they'll get like a throat like like packet all kind of thing like silverware, cachas, you know, like you know knives and like you know pots and pans and stuff like that >> and they like to go down there and like to sell that stuff and they make a lot of money off of it because there's a lot of people down there in property that you know can't really afford stuff [snorts] like that. So going down there and selling it I guess they make a lot of money for it. I don't know. But no, I never considered crossing the border. Like I don't want to do that because >> Oh, he was telling me that he he would pay for your >> Yeah, he paid for my trip. Why help him drive? >> Yeah. >> He was with him and his wife, >> but um he asked me he's just I've known him for many many years. So it wasn't just like some friend that I just met, you know. It was like I've known this guy. He's like friend of the family. >> Yeah. So, did he end up going? >> Yeah, he ended up going, but I like going. I never went. I was like, my mind was made up. Like, soon as he told me he was going to Bis like a going to Bis. I don't do that. My sister's gone before, but she's all like, "It's really not that bad." Like, you know, you would think you would go down the street and then you'd see a murderer right on the spot, but No, I mean I ain't never I'm not going. I didn't want to. I have no interest in going to Mexico whatsoever. I prefer to stay in the US. >> Yeah, >> I like it better. You know, like the laws, everything like the peace. I just try to be a law-abiding citizen, right? Go to work, make money [snorts] for a cigarette, too. Hopefully the next gas station will let me buy a pack of smokes, huh? With that pole punched ID. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, >> that'll be awesome. >> It shows that you're over the age of 21. That's the most important thing. >> Despite claiming he wouldn't, as soon as the officer let him go, Figueroa proceeded to attempt crossing the Mexican border. Now that the detectives had his name, face, and the description of the truck, they were able to look into his movements, specifically his movements. On March 18th, the day Rita disappeared. They found that not only was one present at the speak easy when Rita was leaving that night, his truck was also spotted driving in the area that Rita's phone was last seen, the same truck he attempted to cross the border in. They couldn't yet prove he was responsible for Rita's disappearance, but they had enough from a violent 2017 assault to issue a warrant. >> We got to English or Spanish? >> Uh, English, please. >> English. Good. >> How's it going? >> Sergeant Martinez from the sheriff's office here in Nigash. >> Okay. >> You have an arrest warrant out of Colorado. Not too sure if you know what it's for. >> I do. Um, what's going to happen? >> What do you know? You know what it is for? >> I mean, my lawyer I talked to my lawyer yesterday. He's the one who convinced me to turn myself in. >> What did they say it was for? >> My lawyer said it was for a sex assault that supposedly just got signed by the judge either Friday or yesterday. >> I don't know when it got signed. Um, it's from Colorado, you know, so we have very little info. >> So, so am I going to get extradited then? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> What's happened with my truck? >> It's going to take it to our department. >> And then Yes. Colorado, their investigators will come down over here. You know, they got to do what they got to do. >> That's the only warrant. That's it. >> Yeah. >> Sweet. >> All right. Come up on. >> Yeah. You're going to have to turn around. You don't have anything else with you, right? No. out of here. >> It's even better. >> Let's go. Let's go out here. >> That gas tax was worried about having to get $200 to get back to Colorado. >> For real, man. >> Figuroa was in unusually high spirits for someone getting arrested. Perhaps because he thought he was getting booked for the less serious crime and got away with what he did to Rita. For the [music] next 2 years, detectives tried to get the truth out of Figareroa, but he wouldn't budge. [music] What he didn't realize is that his own words would become his downfall. While gloating to another inmate, he admitted that he killed Rita and that the police would never find her body. To some extent, that ended up being true. Despite searching high and low, her body could not be located. What the police did find though was a single strand of hair in Figuroa's truck. DNA analysis confirmed the strand belonged to Rita. They had the DNA evidence, but still no body. The only person who knew where it was refused to cooperate until they offered him a plea deal. >> The only reason why I'm getting this deal is because of the family. [music] They said the family are going to give me they said they wanted to give me a chance, [music] you know, if I gave them what they wanted. So, and [music] that if I didn't take the deal, then they weren't going to go any lower than 48 and they were just going to let me go to trial and convict me and give me life without, you know. So, I mean, it was a really tough decision. I didn't want to do it, but because I felt like I was going to win, but my lawyer was like, "You're not going to win this trial. They like they're not they're going to convict you on circumstantial evidence. like they have enough to convict you on. They were telling you one like this is a really good deal. Like if you were in like Arapjo or Adams County like okay maybe you had a chance for a home but here in the state in Boulder in Boulder you're not going to get a fair trial. Everybody's going to hold it against you that you already [music] convicted on something totally separate and they're going to convict you on that. All right. You and I they already did like jury [music] questionnaires and they already got their responses back and then that's where my lawyers said that after I wasn't going to get a fair trial. So she, you know, she sat down and and it was hard, Mom, cuz I told her no, I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to do it. I wanted to go to trial, but you know, and so I ended up writing the papers and I took the deal. So, it's 48 concurrent, [music] which means if the legislation, if they change everything and everything goes through with the with the laws, cuz already supposedly they've already changed violence down to 50% and nonviolent down to like 32 35%. 30% something like that. So, you know, if you know, with this year, the next 5 10 years, something happens to where they're already shutting down prisons. like they've already I guess they already shut down like a couple units across Colorado and there's a lot of people that's already moved in here the territorial and stuff because of that new law that's going to go into effect in July where it's retro where if you were to sentence before July or after July on a violent then your case will then it will go down to 50%. So ultimately 24 years I would have to do maybe 22 [music] eligible for a halfway house. So [music] you know and I just I told him what happened you know and I told her >> what he told the detectives wasn't easy for them to hear but he laid it all out there. The final moments of Rita's life and how he took it with his own bare hands >> at Breakers. I left Breakers when it was last call. Um, which was I mean I I really don't remember that much. I think it's like 2 o'clock, 2:30ish. Um, and so I was afraid to go back to my truck because Deborah Garcia's boyfriend was there. I noticed that he was there and because I had conflict with him previous nights. Um I was afraid to go back to my truck. So I had uh requested for a couple of the bouncers from the bar to escort me to my truck just to ensure my safety. And so they agreed and uh so I was escorted back to my truck. Uh and my truck was parked in the front uh right off of uh Main Street facing north. And so when I got back to my truck, um, you know, I just I wanted to keep I wanted to continue drinking. So I flipped a U-turn on Main Street and Fort and went south and uh I went parked. I went towards uh Speak Easy and um there was a parking spot there and I had a parallel park uh which my rear passenger tire ended up curb checking a little bit where it just came on top of the pavement and I came back down but I did it in a safe way. Um, and so I got off the truck after I turned on my vehicle, turned it off. Um, went towards the back and I noticed there was an officer and he told me, "Have you been drinking?" And I told him, "Yeah, of course I have." You know, St. Patrick's night. And uh, he goes, "No, stop. You're no more. Don't drive anymore. You're done." I'm like, "All right, fine. Um, from there I decided to go down to Speak Easy and try and purchase some more alcohol. And so when I went to the bar, they um they were already denying everybody. So instead, they ended up giving me some water um with ice. So I came back up and uh and I I believe it was two cups. Um so I came back up and I approached the officer, which I don't remember his name. I know he was a young guy, probably about 23. He was young and told me he was in SWAT. Um, and so, you know, I sparked up a conversation about, you know, do you know this cop? Do you know that cop? And, you know, just told him that, um, how I knew some of the cops and some of the cops were dirty, like Alex Valdivia, he likes to beat on his wife. Um, I told him about how Bill Clark, how he likes to stalk his people after he arrested them, even after the fact they're already imprisoned. And I told him that I dated Lisa. Um, and stuff like that. >> I don't know if this is relevant. >> I mean, I'm not I'm just talking about like that's the conversation that I had with this cop. >> And then so after that, he was just like, "All right, I'm out of here. I'm leaving." And was disinterested in the conversation, so he left. Um guy came up to me, fist bumped me and said, "That's cool. He ran that cop off the block." And so after he left, I got back into my truck and um we was really debating on driving cuz he already told me not to drive, but um I couldn't see him and I noticed that he left and he went all the way straight down Main Street. And so I turned out my vehicle and I decided to just park my truck in the back parking lot of Threes uh by the Alks Lodge. And uh so there I um I sat in my truck and I and I ended up connecting to Wi-Fi on threes uh 3's Wi-Fi through a cell phone or a tablet that I had. Um and I was trying to just find out if there was any parties going on or anything. And so I was sitting in my truck, you know, I was snorting cocaine. Um I had alcohol in my truck. at probably like a 12-pack and I was still drinking just trying to find out if there was anything going on. later, you know, a few minutes after just sitting there, I noticed uh I saw in the distance from the entry or the exit right off of Main Street in the alley, right between um the Elks and Speak Easys, I noticed Breida, uh what looked like to be Rita, her cousin, and the male that was with them. They were coming and I noticed that Rita's cousin and the guy, they were arguing. Um, and at that time I didn't know if Rita I didn't know if that was her cousin. I didn't know if they were related or anything. Uh, but just later down the road I found out that it was her cousin. Um, so I noticed that the boyfriend and the girlfriend they were arguing and as they were coming closer towards the parking area where I was parked, um, they were he ended up running away from the group and ran towards the vehicle. He reached under the he came into a vehicle that happened to be parked in front of me and he reached under the car, retrieved some keys, opened the vehicle, got in, turned it on, and the group got closer. And at that point, I noticed that she the girlfriend was telling him, "No, you got to leave. You can't be here." Um, and I don't know what the argument was about. It just they were having a confrontation and uh she refused to go home with him and uh he was telling her get in the vehicle. She didn't want to. Um, so he ended up just flipping out and turned on the vehic or turned on the vehicle and pulled out and he left. Um, the two girls happened to walk around uh towards the I mean towards deeper into the parking lot and they walked to the left side of my truck and my window was rolled down and I was smoking a cigarette and they took notice of me and Rita's cousin asked me, "Hey, can you can you give us a ride?" And I was like, "Yeah, sure." you know, not a problem. Even though I'm not supposed to drive, you know, whatever. You know, they're they obviously were in need and I literally was willing to help them. Um, so they came around the passenger door, unlocked the door. Um, I can't remember who came in first. I'm not sure if it was Rita or her cousin. Um, they were getting in the vehicle. Um, and as Rita was about to come in and close the door, I again I I don't remember which one of the two. Um, but at that point, the boyfriend had came back through the alley uh the north end and coming in at a high rate of speed pissed off and he stopped behind my truck and then the girls noticed and they were like, "Okay, he came back." So they're like, "Never mind." want. Thank you though. And then they got out. They closed the door. And then that's when the boyfriend and girlfriend started fighting again. And he was telling her, you know, get your ass in the car. Let's go. And she was just like wasn't going to do it. So he ended up grabbing her by the hair and was taking her to the vehicle. And I noticed there was another pedestrian. He um he had noticed the the situation that was going on. He was with his girlfriend. And so he intervened and so the cousin boyfriend and his bystander ended up getting into a fight [music] and the cousin or Rita's cousin's boyfriend ended up like knocking out the guy and at that moment you know I felt like I wanted to intervene at that point as well but you know something just told me just to stay out of it. it was none of my business. And um so I stayed out of it and at that point, [music] you know, that guy got up, his girlfriend ended up getting them and then they ended up leaving and Rita's cousin and that guy and he [music] forced her into the vehicle and then they took off and they left in the parking lot. Um and uh I noticed Rita was by herself. Uh she was on her phone and she was walking towards threes the door the back door and you know I at that point you know I ended up not paying attention anymore. Like it was just whatever was done it was done. I ended up going back to what I was doing, which was smoking weed or smoking cigarettes and uh snorting cocaine and drinking and just waiting for something to spark up on on, you know, on Facebook or something to come through, you know, like somebody messaged me. And so, you know, nothing ended up happening and eventually read it, she disappeared. I don't know where she went. Um I didn't see which way she went, you know, I didn't see anything else. Um, at that point, I'm not sure how much time, felt, like maybe 10 [music] 10 minutes. I realized nothing was going to happen. So, I was thinking to myself, all right, just come call it a night. So, I turned on my vehicle and I ended up pulling out of that parking lot and I pulled on to Kaufman Street and I went north on Koffman and I was driving and you know I happened to see Rita past uh I think it was on Fourth and um uh she was passing by that old fire station but she would have already crossed the street. I noticed she was by herself and I mean it was dark. there was, you know, there was nobody out there. I mean, I probably see like maybe one or two vehicles out on the street. Um, and you know, something had told me, you know, stop by, ask her to see if she wanted to ride. And then something sparked in my head. I was like, "No, that's just that just seems kind of weird." So, I ended up just going I ended up just driving. Um, and then that's when I came up to Long's Peak and I decided I was like, you know what? I'm going to offer a ride, but I didn't want to pull up to the side of the road like that. I just felt like it was kind of weird. So, I ended up just pulling up ahead and by the floral shop. That's when I came through the alley and I parked by the floor shop or into one of their parking spots and I just waited until she came up on the sidewalk and u soon as she passed by I got out casually. I wasn't trying to frighten her so I didn't try to approach her right away. >> Until here, Figueroa behaved like an average guy who would help a stranger out. But within the next few minutes, everything changed. >> She was walking in front of the floral shop and that's when I walked up and I said, "Hey." I was like, "How you doing?" You know, and obviously she seen that it was me and she wasn't frightened or anything. And I asked her, I was like, "Hey, can I offer you a ride home?" Um, and she said, "Yeah." So, we turned around and we were walking back to my car casually, you know. And we walked about 10 steps and then all of a sudden she had stopped, looked at me, she's like, "You're a weirdo." And you know, I I immed I I snapped and got mad and I punched her with my right hand and she she fell to the ground and she hit her head really hard on the concrete and she had like a a baseball size uh bump on her head [laughter] and uh I was still mad. this is what she said to me. I freaked out at the same time and uh just picked her up and I just took her to the truck and I got into the truck and at that point I was just still angry like just mad and I I just grabbed her. I started choking her and I mean I I choked her until like I didn't even know if she was dead or if she was breathing or not. I just I just got into the truck and I just continued choking her and I held her like that for about five minutes. I let go and I sat at the truck and I realized what I just did and I got scared. I I looked at her and I just couldn't believe what literally just happened. I didn't know what to do. You know what I did? It was So, I sat there for about what felt like 10 minutes and I just looked at her and didn't know what I was going to do. I literally didn't know. And so I um turned on my truck and I decided to pull out, went north, and then I pulled out and I turned left on Lock Peak, you know, and I honestly didn't know where I was going to go. Like I I I had no idea. So, I was just driving on Walks Peak and um I took a left on like I don't remember the street. I just know that there's like a school, private school on that street. took a left, I went straight, was going south, and then I went to Third Avenue, took a right on Third, and um I was going west on Third. And at that point, I I realized that um you know, I noticed that Rita's phone, she had a phone. And so I grabbed her cell phone. That's when I came up to third and sunset and I was trying to figure out the phone so I could disable the GPS because I know the phone had GPS and um so I was trying to figure out how to disable the phone and I accidentally called 911. >> The call that had established Rita's last known location didn't even come from her but from her killer. She never had time to call for help. >> That's when I was passing by the golf course and um I hung up and that's when I immediately ended up pulling off to the first street coming up, took a right and it was like a covac. Pulled up to that cold sac. I stopped and I was trying to figure out how to, you know, like how to disactivate the phone. So I looked out around the truck. I was trying to look for like a needle or uh an earring or something and you know I couldn't find anything and then something clicked to me that I had a I had a earring in the truck. Um you know because I you know I've stolen jewelry before you know and so I had I happened to have an earring in the truck laying around and so I ended up using that. I popped out the SIM card, but that wasn't up until so I pulled out of the Gold Sack and I went left on third [music] and ended up going east and I passed Sunset and I think that's when I came up to U Vivian somewhere around there and I took a left and I took another left and that's when I was able to pull out the SIM card and I pulled the SIM card out and I tossed it out the window. Um that point that's when I came up to Sunset. I continued going west on the S3 after get removing the SIM card. I came to Sunset and then I ended up taking a right on Sunset up to 9th and I went left on 9th and uh went west on 9th and I went to uh went to my sister's house and uh I I got off the truck and I was planning on getting a shovel because at that point I decided that I was going to have to bury this body. Um, couldn't find the shovel. I I uh I looked around the house. Um, I ended up opening the garage door and I just I just couldn't find the shovel. It was just too dark. I didn't wasn't trying to wake up my sister. So, I ended up just leaving. I left the truck. I got in and I ended up going I ended up pulling back out um out back onto uh 9inth Avenue and I ended up going west towards airport and uh I took airport south to uh Nelson and then I went right on Nelson and in that area I was deciding you know if there was an area around there to dump the body and you know something just told me that it just was too obvious and it's just it was eventually going to be found. Um, so I ended up driving all around west side of Walmart in the back roads looking for a spot to dispose of the body. So um, you know, and something like I just I I just I just couldn't find a spot, you know. So there was a So when I I don't know the highway that connects between Boulder and Long or Boulder and Lions. It's that highway way back there along the front range. I ended up there of just looking for spots just and I was just driving down roads and I was just basically just looking for picking up a good spot to put this body. Um, uh, I ended up on that highway going north and 66 and so I decided to turn right because left looked like there was there was just a lot of police presence. Um, so I ended up going east on 66 and uh continued going east and I noticed that I was running out of gas and um I didn't want to pump any gas long because you know I didn't want to be on surveillance or anything. So I continued going east on 66. I passed a Walt Sun County line road and then that is when I um I my my truck broke down. I ran out of gas and as my truck was moving slowly because it that had died, I ended up pulling off of the first dirt road which was after W County line road and I pulled up in front of this house and um you know was really shocked. I was scared. I didn't know what the hell I was going to do. I had this body in my truck and so I um I knew I had to go get gas. So, um but while I was gone, I didn't want to leave Brea in the truck. So, I ended up taking her off the truck and I ended up laying her under a pine tree in front of this house. And so I grabbed a gas can that was at the back of my truck and I went back on 66. I was walking west and um you know hitchhiking trying to catch a ride. After filling up my gas can, he ended up giving me a ride back to my truck. I filled up my truck or I filled up I I put the gas in my truck and um once my truck had uh Um once it turned on, I pulled back out on 66 and I went east and um I went our plan was to refill my gas cuz that g that gallon wasn't going to last very long. So um I ended up refilling up gas. Um I think it's a Shell gas station right there off of I25 66. It's a new gas station that just opened at at that time. So, I went in there and uh I filled up my gas tank, my truck. Um I went in there and bought a pack of cigarettes, came back to my truck, and um noticed that the sun was coming out, and so I started freaking out. I I know I had to get rid of this body. So, I went east on 66 and um I came across this dirt road that was closer to I'm not I don't remember the highway the name of it, but it's right there that connects from Platville Road too. Um uh so before I came up to that highway, there was a dirt road before the river and like I I passed by there many times throughout my life and I felt like it was going to be a good spot because just the lack of traffic that ever goes through there. Um and also what got me was that there was a sign on that gate and it just said not accessible to [snorts] private property. So I ended up pulling in there and the gate was open and on other days the gates always closed and locked. So that specific day that night it was open and pulled in and um my plan was to lay her body there and then come back and bury it. Went to the passenger side and I pulled her out and I was trying to carry her. I mean, it was heavy and um I ended up dropping her and um I just couldn't hold her. I couldn't hold on to her because she was just heavy. And uh she fell in a way where I heard a bone or heard something pop or break. Not sure if it was her neck or if it was her arm. Um something. I um so I ended up just pulling her from behind. I put my arms under her arms and I pulled her behind the bush and I laid her there in a fetus position facing west and I ended up throwing I ended up grabbing the the cattails and I folded them over her. Um, before I did that, I also removed her clothes. I removed her boots. I removed her underwear. I removed her her um her panty hose, her dress. Um, I didn't notice anything else on her. I noticed that she had a a piercing on her tongue. I didn't remove it. I just left it there. Um, and uh, and so I ended up throwing all that stuff into the truck and that's when I had folded the cattails over her. I got into the truck. I pulled up to the dirt road to where I could flip a U-turn. And I got back on 66. I ended up going west. Um, when I got to I25, I went south on I25 and I came up from McDonald's. And at that point, I was just really exhausted. I was very depleted. I had to eat something. So, I ordered some breakfast real quick. Um, and I ended up pulling into that Mottown A parking lot and I had to just park and just just take a moment. And um by that time, you know, the sun's out, you know, everything's just around me. It's just active right now. And I I had to just lay down. And I just and honestly, during that whole time, it was just like like my mind was just a blur. Like I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what I was going to do. And I probably laid there what felt like an hour. And you know, after just laying there in my truck, I I looked around and I just, you know, I noticed her clothes were there. Um, you know, I just noticed like my truck like I just something clicked to me to where, you know, the truck's dirty because just everything that had just happened in there, you know, just having her in there, me touching everything. Um, I know I had to just dispose of, you know, I had disposed her clothes and I had to dispose everything that I was wearing. I had to clean my truck and so I ended up trying I ended up just like I ended up snapping out of it and I just got into this mind dog where I had to just what's done is done, you know, and I >> [sighs] >> I had to I had to get rid of the clothes. So I got back on I25 and my thought was disposing the clothes in a totally different town, different city. So I was my thought was to go towards Stanford. So, I drove up I drove south on I25 and after driving so long and I was thinking like, well, I don't have a whole lot of money to be putting in gas and stuff. So, I decided to cut the trip short and decided to take the exit on a raft going west. Um, and then that's when I came into Lafayette and there was a I came across as I entered Lafayette, I ended up stopping at the first apartment complex cuz my thought was, you know, nobody really knows me. Nobody's going to think it's suspicious that I just pulled up, threw off trash, you know. So, um, I had a bag, so I ended up throwing her stuff in there. And then something like that something told me don't throw it all in one spot. So I think what I threw in that bag, you know, I I really don't remember. You know, it could have been the dress. And you know, it hadn't been the dress. So I threw the dress in the bag. Everything else I kept in the truck. I I threw the dress away into the dumpster. Uh then I ended up pulling out of that apartment complex and I continued going west on Arapjo and then that's when um and it probably wasn't I I mean I don't know like cuz now that I'm thinking about it on the Rapo east of there it's like eerie. So, but I know I know I stopped at an apartment complex in Lafayette as I entered it and then I ended up going south of uh 287 towards Longmont or north and I came across uh a pond right behind off of uh Safeway and I pulled into that pond and my my thought was to dispose of the home. So, I decided I had a hammer in my truck and I, you know, I had a bunch of tools from my job cuz I do construction. So, I ended up taking the hammer and I ended up smashing the screen. So, that water seeped in and, you know, just um just ruined the insides of it. Okay. >> So, >> um I did that in the passenger side, um after I got out, I broke it and I went towards the pond. And at that point, I noticed somebody had just pulled in and that person got out of the truck and was just being really weird. And I was very, you know, suspicious of that person. And so, I had to make it look like I wasn't just throwing something in the water. It made it look like I picked up something from the ground and then I had like chuck the phone towards his pond. I I threw it in the pond. That's why Rita's belongings could never be located. He took extensive measures to get rid of all the evidence. >> And you know, I just I started cleaning the truck. I started wiping down all the hard surfaces with bleach and water. Um [snorts] I scrubbed the seats really good, passenger, driver's side, the middle. Um I ended up spraying the floor with it, you know, just because it was very highly concentrated um formula, whatever it was. And um you know, uh I also before that I ended up growing the seeds with duct tape just in case there was any hairs, any fibers, anything like that. Um, like I didn't really do a crazy ass clean because I did it, you know, I swept my truck with my hands, you know, and I wiped it all down with the cloth and um, so after all that was done, you know, I decided that I had to clean it further. So, I decided to go to a car wash right off of a coffin right uh, right across the street from the St. Brain Admin building. um over there uh right past the bridge. Um and so what I ended up doing is I ended up vacuuming my truck, the floors. I disposed everything that was in my truck, everything that was in the passenger doors, everything that could have been touched. Uh, I separated all of my tools that were in there. I threw it in the back of the truck and I cleaned everything in my truck. I vacuumed it under the seats, the side of it, everywhere. And so, um, I went into I I drove into the where you spray your vehicle and I sprayed the floor. Um, I power washed the floor. Um, and I backed out. I vacuumed up the water and then I I went to the $5 car wash which was right there off of Carat. Um, and I got a a full service where they washed or the outside of the and the under of the vehicle was washed. And I got out and I I vacuumed the truck again. And um after that I went home. Um, so when I went home, um, you know, I pretended that it was, you know, nothing else, like pretend nothing happened. I I, you know, I didn't want to get in trouble for this. >> Figuroa then proceeded to pinpoint the exact location of Rita's body. It was located on April 28th, 2022, just over 4 years after she went missing. Figuroa was originally being charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping for the case, but the charges were knocked down to secondderee because of his plea deal. He was sentenced to a total of 60 years in prison for the murder and kidnapping of Rita Gutierrez Garcia. He was already serving 93 years to life for a 2017 attempted murder and sexual assault case. with today we have this victory and we cannot wait to be able to give Rita the peace and the rest her body needs. As I've mentioned, as you've heard me so many times say, I know where Rita is. I know it was just her body that we had been missing. I know Rita is looking down on us right now, and she's probably doing some crazy little dance. And uh I am so glad for that. With a combined sentence of at least 153 years, Figureroa will never walk free again.