Arrest Made in Connection to Slaying of Missing Dallas ISD Teacher’s Assistant Jennifer Mendez Olascoaga

A man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the killing of a missing Dallas ISD teacher’s assistant, according to the police. Mesquite police apprehended Sixto Banegas Matute, a 34-year-old resident of Balch Springs, on a murder charge related to the death of Jennifer Mendez Olascoaga, a 24-year-old whose remains were found about a mile away from where her abandoned car was discovered. Banegas has been booked into the Mesquite jail, with bail set at $1 million. It is currently unknown whether he has legal representation.

The investigation began on October 12 when authorities responded to the discovery of human remains near Interstate 20 and Lawson Road. The remains were found within the Mesquite city limits, in a wooded area that Seagoville police were searching. The Dallas County medical examiner’s office confirmed the remains belonged to Mendez and ruled her death a homicide.

Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified Banegas as a suspect, leading to his arrest. However, Mesquite police have not disclosed the cause of Mendez’s death or provided further details about the ongoing investigation.

Mendez had been missing for over two weeks before her family filed a missing-person report with the Dallas police on September 28. However, authorities redirected them to the Seagoville department after learning that she was last seen there. Mendez’s family members received text messages indicating foul play, leading them to believe she was in danger. They reported the messages to KXAS-TV (NBC5), claiming that the sender had stated, “You’ll never find her. She’s gone.” The authorities were unable to trace the number from which the messages were sent.

Mendez, who worked as a teacher’s assistant for Dallas ISD, did not show up for work, and her disappearance was unexpected according to her family. Her vehicle was found abandoned by her family near the intersection of Lawson and Milam roads in Mesquite.

The investigation into Mendez’s death is ongoing, and authorities have not released any further information at this time.