Body found confirmed to be that of missing woman

(6/24/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- We heard from the friend of a missing woman who says their final conversation was about Father's Day. And it's the father of the missing woman who confirms one of the bodies found in an open field on Friday is that of his daughter.

The family is devastated by learning what they've been dreading. Protasio Aparece says police told him Saturday afternoon the body found in a field was positively identified as his daughter, 23-year-old Maria Aparece, known as "Sally." Aparece says it was her fingerprints that led to the positive ID.

"It gives us more peace," he told us. "At least we know our daughter has been found and positively identified and we know where she was for the past five days she was missing."

Sally and her friend, 17-year-old Huy Ngo, were seen last Sunday night. She'd driven to his house in northeast Houston. Police say Sally's car was stolen and believe the pair had been carjacked. The family says Sally was talking with another friend on her cell phone about 1:30am that Sunday before the crime happened.

Jamella Gee says Sally's last conversation was about her father.

"Her last phone call to her friend, Sally was talking about what she was going to do for her parents for Fathers Day, and how she was making a Fathers Day card," said Gee.

Gee says part of that card was found in Sally's car.

At least two dozen of Sally's friends and family placed mementos at the spot where she was found. The discovery happened Friday. Two bodies were found in an overgrown field off a remote street in northeast Houston. The agony of this past week has been exhausting for her father, who says he will keep an eye on the investigation.

"We will be very interested in that," said Aperece. "Who did this to my daughter? She doesn't deserve this violent death."

So far, one person has been arrested in connection wtih the case. Dexter Johnson, 18, is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and drug possession. Investigators tell us he used Aparece's car during a robbery and they found it outside his apartment. Police tell us they could charge several others in connection with the case.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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