Topline: A 21-year-old San Antonio man told his uncle that Santa Muerte commanded him to shoot and kill his aunt’s 44-year-old roommate — and police matched ammunition found in his car to the crime scene.
Published: April 17, 2026 12:30 pm ET
Randy Shaw
I cut my teeth in journalism when I began looking into what I saw as abuses of power in my local government. From then on, I was hooked on the dopamine rush of uncovering information.
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Aaron Arocha
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A 21-year-old man arrested on unrelated charges admitted to his uncle that a Mexican folk saint commanded him to shoot and kill the 44-year-old woman he shared a home with — a confession that led police directly to the suspected killer.
Aaron Arocha was taken into custody Tuesday after police found a box of .380 caliber ammunition in his car with rounds missing. The brand and caliber matched five shell casings recovered from the crime scene. Sheri Tolosa, 44, had been shot four times and was found dead in the kitchen of her home at the 1000 block of Donaldson Avenue on San Antonio’s northwest side.
According to a report by KENS5, investigators learned during their inquiry that Arocha had told a relative he shot Tolosa because the Santa Muerte had compelled him to do so. Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint associated with death and venerated in certain spiritual traditions.
The investigation began Monday afternoon with a welfare check. A woman out of town called authorities after a family member told her the suspect had shot someone at her residence. The caller, who was Tolosa’s aunt and Arocha’s aunt, was unable to reach either her roommate or her nephew. She directed her niece — who had a key to the home — to check on the property. Police used that key to gain entry and discovered Tolosa’s body in the kitchen.
Authorities say evidence at the scene indicated Tolosa had been trying to flee. There were no signs she had been in a physical altercation with the suspect.
Arocha was initially arrested Tuesday on unrelated charges. The ammunition match and his own confession to a family member sealed the connection to the killing. As of Thursday night, Arocha remained in Bexar County Jail with no bond set.
Residents of the Jefferson neighborhood, where the killing took place, expressed a mix of relief and sorrow. Jason Vasquez, president of the Jefferson Neighborhood Association, said it was “alarming” but praised the swift arrest. “It’s unfortunate that somebody was killed but it’s fortunate that somebody was quickly found — this person is no longer a danger to our neighborhood,” he said. Madeline Chandler, vice president of the association, called the details “certainly chilling.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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San Antonio Man Told Uncle ‘Santa Muerte’ Commanded Him to Kill His Aunt’s Roommate
A 21-year-old San Antonio man told his uncle that Santa Muerte commanded him to shoot and kill his aunt’s 44-year-old roommate — and police matched ammunition found in his car to the crime scene.
By Randy Shaw
Published: April 17, 2026 12:30 pm ET
Aaron Arocha
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A 21-year-old man arrested on unrelated charges admitted to his uncle that a Mexican folk saint commanded him to shoot and kill the 44-year-old woman he shared a home with — a confession that led police directly to the suspected killer.
Aaron Arocha was taken into custody Tuesday after police found a box of .380 caliber ammunition in his car with rounds missing. The brand and caliber matched five shell casings recovered from the crime scene. Sheri Tolosa, 44, had been shot four times and was found dead in the kitchen of her home at the 1000 block of Donaldson Avenue on San Antonio’s northwest side.
According to a report by KENS5, investigators learned during their inquiry that Arocha had told a relative he shot Tolosa because the Santa Muerte had compelled him to do so. Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint associated with death and venerated in certain spiritual traditions.
The investigation began Monday afternoon with a welfare check. A woman out of town called authorities after a family member told her the suspect had shot someone at her residence. The caller, who was Tolosa’s aunt and Arocha’s aunt, was unable to reach either her roommate or her nephew. She directed her niece — who had a key to the home — to check on the property. Police used that key to gain entry and discovered Tolosa’s body in the kitchen.
Authorities say evidence at the scene indicated Tolosa had been trying to flee. There were no signs she had been in a physical altercation with the suspect.
Arocha was initially arrested Tuesday on unrelated charges. The ammunition match and his own confession to a family member sealed the connection to the killing. As of Thursday night, Arocha remained in Bexar County Jail with no bond set.
Residents of the Jefferson neighborhood, where the killing took place, expressed a mix of relief and sorrow. Jason Vasquez, president of the Jefferson Neighborhood Association, said it was “alarming” but praised the swift arrest. “It’s unfortunate that somebody was killed but it’s fortunate that somebody was quickly found — this person is no longer a danger to our neighborhood,” he said. Madeline Chandler, vice president of the association, called the details “certainly chilling.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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San Antonio Man Told Uncle ‘Santa Muerte’ Commanded Him to Kill His Aunt’s Roommate
A 21-year-old San Antonio man told his uncle that Santa Muerte commanded him to shoot and kill his aunt’s 44-year-old roommate — and police matched ammunition found in his car to the crime scene.
By Randy Shaw
Published: April 17, 2026 12:30 pm ET
Aaron Arocha
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A 21-year-old man arrested on unrelated charges admitted to his uncle that a Mexican folk saint commanded him to shoot and kill the 44-year-old woman he shared a home with — a confession that led police directly to the suspected killer.
Aaron Arocha was taken into custody Tuesday after police found a box of .380 caliber ammunition in his car with rounds missing. The brand and caliber matched five shell casings recovered from the crime scene. Sheri Tolosa, 44, had been shot four times and was found dead in the kitchen of her home at the 1000 block of Donaldson Avenue on San Antonio’s northwest side.
According to a report by KENS5, investigators learned during their inquiry that Arocha had told a relative he shot Tolosa because the Santa Muerte had compelled him to do so. Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint associated with death and venerated in certain spiritual traditions.
The investigation began Monday afternoon with a welfare check. A woman out of town called authorities after a family member told her the suspect had shot someone at her residence. The caller, who was Tolosa’s aunt and Arocha’s aunt, was unable to reach either her roommate or her nephew. She directed her niece — who had a key to the home — to check on the property. Police used that key to gain entry and discovered Tolosa’s body in the kitchen.
Authorities say evidence at the scene indicated Tolosa had been trying to flee. There were no signs she had been in a physical altercation with the suspect.
Arocha was initially arrested Tuesday on unrelated charges. The ammunition match and his own confession to a family member sealed the connection to the killing. As of Thursday night, Arocha remained in Bexar County Jail with no bond set.
Residents of the Jefferson neighborhood, where the killing took place, expressed a mix of relief and sorrow. Jason Vasquez, president of the Jefferson Neighborhood Association, said it was “alarming” but praised the swift arrest. “It’s unfortunate that somebody was killed but it’s fortunate that somebody was quickly found — this person is no longer a danger to our neighborhood,” he said. Madeline Chandler, vice president of the association, called the details “certainly chilling.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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