Austin, TX

Missing in Texas: A look at unsolved murders in Guadalupe County

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2024

Missing in Texas: A look at unsolved murders in Guadalupe County

GUADALUPE COUNTY, Texas – In this week’s “Missing in Texas,” FOX 7 Austin’s Angela Shen took a look at unsolved murders in Guadalupe County, some of them are decades old.

Sheriff Arnold Zwicke says the office has eight unsolved murders spanning four decades, and they’re continuing to follow all leads.

On July 3, 1983, 23-year-old Dalia Soto was found on the side of the road at the south end of Seguin, beaten and run over.
On July 6, 1991, two-year-old Jesse Gonzales was found unresponsive at an apartment on Blanks Street.
On August 18, 1992, 26-year-old Toni Ackerman was found in a ditch on the side of the road at FM 775 and Partnership Road.

Ackerman had been shot and was still alive when deputies got there, but died before she was able to give any information on who her killer might have been. Witnesses say earlier that night, she was last seen with a man at a grocery store on Kingsbury Street.

“That one remains an active case. We’re still following every lead that we can,” Zwicke said.

On Sept. 21, 1992, 23-year-old David Diller’s body was found floating in the Guadalupe River.

“This one sat for a long time, and then we were finally able to identify him by rerunning the fingerprints through AFIS [Automated Fingerprint Identification System]. And we were able to identify that he was indeed from Austin, Texas. Followed up on every lead we can on that,” Zwicke said.

Missing in Texas: David Ponce

38-year-old David Ponce was killed in a hit-and-run in Manor. A year and a half later, his family is still calling for justice. Angela Shen has the details.

On May 12, 1993, 59-year-old Joe Naranjo was found deceased in his home by an employee.
On April 6, 1998, 35-year-old Ramon Sanchez was found shot on the side of the road just south of New Braunfels.
On March 24, 2017, Dwight Schraub was found murdered in the parking lot of Big Tex Fireworks stand on Highway 46.
On July 4, 2017, 57-year-old Joe Rangel was found at home with gunshot wounds on Shady Lane in Seguin.

Zwicke says when the cold case unit started several years ago, they looked over everything for fresh leads. They now have two people on the unit, and they also get help from the Texas Rangers.

“I always say it’s that little piece of thread that you unravel that will pull this case together,” Zwicke said. “It’s just a lot of legwork and re-contacting the witnesses, the victims’ families and anything, looking for any clue that might really lead us in the right direction.”

MORE MISSING IN TEXAS STORIES:

Technological advancements help, as well.

“Through the years, with the help of DNA, better and easier access, we have a couple of cases that are now up at the DPS lab awaiting answers on the DNA,” he said.

For all the unsolved cases, the hope is they can solve the puzzle, even if it’s decades later.

“They’re important because there are family members that lost a loved one. Our job is to try to bring it to closure. You know you really never get closure, but there’s that hope that we can at least find out what happened and put the person responsible in jail.”

A reward may be available for information on these cases. For more information, visit Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers.

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Austin, TX

Austin weather: Intense storms in West Texas could make it to Hill Country

Published

2 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Austin weather: Intense storms in West Texas could make it to Hill Country

AUSTIN, Texas – We will be on storm watch tonight.

Local perspective:

More of the same today with a cloud/sun mix, warm, humid and breezy conditions.

Highs heading for the 80s with wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph.

The backstory:

The West Texas dryline will be the storm machine. This is where the Gulf moisture meets up with dry air coming off the mountains.

As the two different air masses collide the air will be forced up.

The heating of the day and upper low will provide even stronger lift to generate numerous and more intense storms in West Texas.

There is a chance a few of the storms will survive their journey away from the dryline and reach the Hill Country starting this evening and overnight.

By the time they enter Central Texas, most of the storms will drop below severe limits.

The highest threat of severe weather remains west of the Hill Country.

What’s next:

Could we get redevelopment with the storms late on Wednesday?

The jury is still out because not all the models agree, so we will have to play the wait and see game.

The next game-changers will be a stronger Western Low and a cold front with bite to it entering the picture this weekend.

Expecting increasing rain chances on Saturday followed by a cooler and drier breeze the rest of the weekend.

What you can do:

Track your local forecast for the Austin area quickly with the free FOX 7 WAPP.

The design gives you radar, hourly, and 7-day weather information just by scrolling.

Our weather alerts will warn you early and help you stay safe.

The Source: Information from meteorologist Zack Shields.

WeatherAustin

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Austin, TX

Texas AG to investigate Austin Police’s new policies related to ICE warrants, city says

Published

14 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Texas AG to investigate Austin Police’s new policies related to ICE warrants, city says

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed concern Monday about two items on the Austin Transit Partnership Board agenda later this week, one to negotiate an office lease in a downtown office building for up to $32 million for roughly 8 years and another to furnish the space for $15 million. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/inappropriate-mayor-pushes-back-on-47m-light-rail-office-relocation-plan/

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Austin, TX

George Strait Delivers Epic Return to Austin Stage – Austin Today

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

George Strait Delivers Epic Return to Austin Stage – Austin Today

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The dazzling stage lights and shattered disco ball textures evoke the electrifying energy of a George Strait concert, where the country legend continues to captivate audiences even as his legendary career nears its end.Austin Today

George Strait thrilled fans with an unforgettable concert at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, delivering a set packed with his signature No. 1 hits. The country music legend’s return to the stage after nearly four years left some wondering how much longer he plans to continue performing, as Strait has hinted at retirement in the past.

Why it matters

As one of the most influential and successful country artists of all time, George Strait’s concerts have become must-see events for his devoted fanbase. This performance in Austin showcased Strait’s enduring popularity and artistry, even as he nears the end of his legendary career.

The details

Strait’s concert at the Moody Center on Thursday night was his first at the venue since April 2022. The show featured a hit-filled setlist that had the capacity crowd singing along. Strait shared a video on Instagram teasing the performance, writing ‘What a night Austin, TX! Who’s ready to do it again on Saturday?’ While the video didn’t show any full performances, it did include a snippet of Strait singing his 2024 single ‘Three Drinks Down’.

Strait last performed at the Moody Center in April 2022.
He is scheduled to play another show at the Moody Center on Saturday, April 13, 2026.

What they’re saying

“I have maybe five good years to sing my songs for you, folks…it’s been around 50 now. And I still love it just as much as I ever did.”

— George Strait

What’s next

Strait is scheduled to perform another show at the Moody Center in Austin on Saturday, April 13, 2026, giving fans another chance to see the country legend in action.

The takeaway

George Strait’s epic return to the Moody Center stage in Austin underscores his enduring popularity and artistry, even as he nears the end of his legendary career. Fans cherished the opportunity to witness the ‘King of Country Music’ deliver a hit-filled set, leaving them to wonder how much longer they’ll be able to see Strait perform live.

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