Texas Man Convicted of Murdering Girlfriend by Hurling Recliner off Balcony
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Texas jurors convicted 39-year-old Raymond Antonio Rivera of murdering his girlfriend by throwing her off the balcony of her apartment in Killeen, Texas. The incident, which occurred on June 25, 2020, at the Henderson Garden Apartments, resulted in the death of 50-year-old Nilsa Maria Arce.
The tragic events unfolded in broad daylight, witnessed by horrified onlookers. Witnesses testified that an argument between Rivera and Arce escalated before Rivera hurled the victim off the balcony. What proved fatal, however, was Rivera's subsequent act of throwing an orange recliner, weighing as much as 50 pounds, onto Arce's body below. The impact led to a broken neck and numerous other severe injuries, ultimately resulting in Arce's death in the following days.
During the trial, witnesses recounted the horrifying scene, with one witness, Roxanne Rodriguez, describing how Arce was breathing heavily before the fatal blow. Rodriguez testified that she saw Rivera throw the recliner onto Arce's face, after which all sounds ceased. Rivera continued to throw objects off the balcony, creating a pile atop the victim.
“I heard a woman and a man arguing and then I heard, ‘Aaah!’ and I heard Miss Nilsa hit the ground,” she testified, “I looked at my partner and I said, ‘Did he just throw her over the balcony?’”
She ran to get help at an auto body shop across the street.
“By the time we got back, so much stuff had been thrown that it looked like a pile of trash on top of her,” Rodriguez said, during her testimony on Tuesday morning. She said that only the victim’s feet could be discerned from the pile of furniture and other household items.
Another witness, U.S. Army veteran Aden Puente Santiago, testified to removing the recliner from Arce's body in an attempt to administer first aid. However, Arce remained unresponsive, prompting Santiago to call for emergency assistance.
Rivera attempted to flee the scene after the murder, but eyewitnesses intervened, leading to his apprehension by the Killeen Police Department. Witnesses recounted pursuing Rivera for blocks until authorities arrived to detain him.
The conviction carries significant repercussions for Rivera, who faces a potential century-long sentence for the murder of Arce. His sentencing is scheduled for May 30, marking the culmination of a lengthy legal process that began with questions about Rivera's competency to stand trial.
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The tragic events unfolded in broad daylight, witnessed by horrified onlookers. Witnesses testified that an argument between Rivera and Arce escalated before Rivera hurled the victim off the balcony. What proved fatal, however, was Rivera's subsequent act of throwing an orange recliner, weighing as much as 50 pounds, onto Arce's body below. The impact led to a broken neck and numerous other severe injuries, ultimately resulting in Arce's death in the following days.
During the trial, witnesses recounted the horrifying scene, with one witness, Roxanne Rodriguez, describing how Arce was breathing heavily before the fatal blow. Rodriguez testified that she saw Rivera throw the recliner onto Arce's face, after which all sounds ceased. Rivera continued to throw objects off the balcony, creating a pile atop the victim.
“I heard a woman and a man arguing and then I heard, ‘Aaah!’ and I heard Miss Nilsa hit the ground,” she testified, “I looked at my partner and I said, ‘Did he just throw her over the balcony?’”
She ran to get help at an auto body shop across the street.
“By the time we got back, so much stuff had been thrown that it looked like a pile of trash on top of her,” Rodriguez said, during her testimony on Tuesday morning. She said that only the victim’s feet could be discerned from the pile of furniture and other household items.
Another witness, U.S. Army veteran Aden Puente Santiago, testified to removing the recliner from Arce's body in an attempt to administer first aid. However, Arce remained unresponsive, prompting Santiago to call for emergency assistance.
Rivera attempted to flee the scene after the murder, but eyewitnesses intervened, leading to his apprehension by the Killeen Police Department. Witnesses recounted pursuing Rivera for blocks until authorities arrived to detain him.
The conviction carries significant repercussions for Rivera, who faces a potential century-long sentence for the murder of Arce. His sentencing is scheduled for May 30, marking the culmination of a lengthy legal process that began with questions about Rivera's competency to stand trial.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
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