GALENA PARK, Texas—An unusual set of circumstances and a lengthy chain of events led to the discovery of a dead body in the back of an SUV on Thanksgiving Day. The story involves a towed vehicle, multiple police departments and a missing HISD teacher whose body was found 53 miles from home.
According to Galena Park Police Chief Robert Pruett, Heladio Rojas Perales had been missing since November 21, but the family did not report it to the police until Thanksgiving Day. The family was not alerted to Perales' disappearance until school administrators reported he had not shown up for work. The family said they had word he could be endangered.
His vehicle was found on Thanksgiving Day in Needville after homeowners reported an abandoned vehicle near their property.
Fort Bend County Sheriffs went out to investigate, but found nothing suspicious. After running the license plates, it was discovered that the vehicle was registered to a missing man out of Galena Park.
The Galena Park Police Department sent over a patrol car and a tow truck. No one checked inside the SUV. They said they had no reason to search inside the vehicle because nothing appeared suspicious and there was no smell.
It was not until the vehicle was being processed at the tow service that Perales’ body was discovered. His body was apparently under a tarp in the cargo area of the SUV. Homicide detectives said he was stabbed multiple times.
The mystery surrounding the death of Perales has spanned across two counties, three cities and involves multiple law enforcement agencies. The case is being investigated by the Galena Park Police Department, Wharton County Sheriff's Office, and Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. The Texas Rangers are also assisting.
Authorities said they believe Perales was killed in Wharton County and are investigating three persons of interest.
HISD confirmed that Perales was a Spanish teacher at Reagan High School. He was in his fourth year of teaching at the school. A crisis team will be on the campus next week.
There are many questions remaining in the death of Heladio Perales. Investigators want to know who did it, why it took so long to discover his dead body and which law enforcement agency, if any, dropped the ball?
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