Found Deceased TX - Marisela Botello, 23, visiting Dallas from Seattle, 5 Oct 2020 *arrest*

[Niner]

Wednesday, Dec. 6th:
*Trial continues (Day 2) (@ 9:30am ET) – TX – Marisela Botello-Valadez (23) (Missing Oct. 5, 2020 while visiting ex in Dallas from Seattle, found deceased on Mar. 24, 2021 in a wooded area near E. Belt Line Rd & Post Oak Rd in Wilmer, TX) - *Lisa Jo Ahmed Dykes (57/now 60) (aka Lisa Beltran & Lisa Ahmed) arrest warrant out (3/25/21) & arrested (in Orange County, FL on 3/27/21), charged (3/27/21) & indicted (6/14/21) with murder & tampering with physical evidence. $500K bond. Released (5/4/21) on bond & must wear ankle monitor. On 12/27/21 Bond held insufficient & bond not allowed. Warrant out for arrest; cut off ankle bracelet & has fled. Extradited back in Texas on 5/24/22. Bond set at $4M.
Botello was killed after leaving a Deep Ellum bar in Oct. 2020. Surveillance video showed Charles Beltran & Marisela leaving together, but it was unclear what happened to Botello.
Trial began on 12/4/23 with jury selection. Jury selected. Trial began on 12/5/23 with opening statements.
Judge Nancy Mulder. DA Robin R. Pittman & Defense attorney Heath Harris, retained.
Case & Court info from 3/24/21 to 11/20/23 reference post #668 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...from-seattle-5-oct-2020-arrest.547153/page-34
12/4/23 Monday, Jury Selection Day 1: Jury selected. No other info available. Trial begins on Tuesday, 12/5/23.
12/5/23 Tuesday, Trial Day 1: Opening statements by DA Robin R. Pittman & Defense attorney Heath Harris.
State witnesses: Ernestina Valadez Frutos, Marisela's mother. Raul Ortiz, friend of Marisela she was visiting. No other info available.
For more info see post #680 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...from-seattle-5-oct-2020-arrest.547153/page-34
Trial continues on Wednesday, 12/6/23.
*Charles Anthony Beltrán (31/now 34) – Pretrial hearing on 4/4/24 & trial set to begin on 4/15/24.
*Nina Tamar Marano (49/now 52) – Pretrial hearing on 1/25/24. & trial set to begin on 2/20/24.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In opening statements, prosecutors alleged it was a twisted case of jealousy.

"She never even met her, did not even know her, but who [Marisela] did meet was Charles Beltran," a prosecutor said.
Prosecutors claimed Dykes stabbed Botello while she was sleeping in the home she shared with Beltran.

However, Dykes' attorney deflected attention to Charles Beltran in his remarks. The attorney says he plans to prove that Dykes did not know what happened to Botello.
Several people took the witness stand on day one of the trial, including family members of the victim. The most heartbreaking was from her mother, who was in tears while speaking about her deceased daughter.

The trial will resume Wednesday morning.

One of three suspects stands trial in connection with the stabbing death of Seattle woman visiting Dallas

Three years ago, Marisela Botello-Valadez went missing in Dallas. After many delays, one of three people accused of murder is facing trial.

www.wfaa.com

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[Niner]

Thanks @imstilla.grandma - unfortunately... I can not access this article. Does it have a list of witnesses - or just what you wrote above - "several people".
TIA! And again thanks for taking the trouble to find articles on this case.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

That was it @Niner I’ll keep a lookout throughout the day. I hope you’re feeling well.

 

[PommyMommy]

So - they do not tell us who the witnesses are... hopefully there will be an article out soon!

Did you see this one?

Marisela Botello murder: Trial underway in Seattle woman's Dallas killing​

[...]

One of Dykes' former co-workers at a law firm testified that she married Marano, an attorney, for financial stability.

"It was more of an opportunity," Rosa Maria Martinez said.

[...]

Botello's remains were found months after her disappearance. Dykes' defense team argued there's a lack of physical evidence, including how and when she was killed.

"You can't tell members of the jury that can you?" Harris said.

"No, I cannot," said Garrick Whaley, a criminal investigator with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.

Dr. Elizabeth Ventura with the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences also testified that she couldn't determine when Botello died based on her autopsy.

[...]

 

[Niner]

Ah! Found an article with a lot more witnesses on the first day - so I am re-doing my notes for that.

Marisela Botello murder trial: Jealousy over man led to deadly stabbing, prosecutors claim

Marisela Botello was killed after leaving a Deep Ellum bar in Oct. 2020. On Tuesday, the trial of the first of three suspects in her killing gots underway.

www.fox4news.com

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 5, 2023

Woman set to stand trial for murder, accused of killing Seattle woman who went missing in Dallas

Lisa Dykes, 60, is one of three people charged in the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Marisela Botello-Valadez.

www.dallasnews.com

[...]

A 12-person jury and two alternates — eight men and six women — who will decide Dykes’ fate were empaneled Monday inside the Dallas County courthouse near downtown Dallas.

[...]

“She completely fell off the face of the Earth,” relative Dennesly Castillo said from the witness stand. Botello’s father and brother were seated in the courtroom gallery throughout testimony. Castillo and Botello’s father went to Dallas shortly after her disappearance to look for her; they returned with her abandoned suitcase full of clothes. ...

[...]

According to a coworker, Dykes’ behavior seemed erratic after an FBI agent called her. She later abruptly resigned from the personal injury law firm where she worked

The coworker, Olivia Martinez, described Dykes as commanding and convincing, saying, “she could persuade anyone to do anything.” Dykes shared the dynamics of her personal life with Martinez.

[...]

A person setting up traps for feral cats stumbled upon the bones and called authorities. Crime scene photos and videos showed bones in a muddy field just off the road. A skull and femur bone jutted out from the soil. A forensic anthropologist testified that the bones showed no signs of trauma but did appear to be weathered from the elements and scavenged by animals.

[...]

 

[Gardenista]

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[Knox]

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[PommyMommy]

DEC 6, 2023

Marisela Botello murder trial: Suspect changed for rapper boyfriend, 'dabbled' in witchcraft, witness says

The state called several character witnesses to the stand on Wednesday, trying to build the case that Lisa Dykes was a jealous woman, who ultimately murdered 23-year-old Marisela Botello in October 2020.

www.fox4news.com

[...]

Crime scene analysts discussed blood found on carpet inside Dykes’ home in Mesquite.

"It shows a positive reaction," DPD crime scene analyst Julia Wayland said.

A forensics expert testified multiple blood samples matched Botello’s DNA.

"You would have to have more than 10 trillion people before you would expect another person to match that DNA profile in the same way," Dallas County Crime Lab forensic biologist Amanda Webb testified.

[...]

A longtime hair stylist for Dykes said that when she first met her client in 2016 she had long blonde hair and dressed conservatively.

She says that changed when she met Beltran in 2018.

"When she met Chuck she kind of started changing," said Kathy DeLeon. "She wanted me to completely shave the sides of her head and do a pompadour."

[...]

The next witness, Dax Stevens, was with Charles Beltran the night he met Botello.

Stevens testified that the two chatted for a few minutes on the sidewalk before walking off.

[...]

All three suspects were reportedly on the run before their initial arrests. One crime scene investigator described Dykes’ cluttered home during that time, as pictures were shown to jurors.

"My impression was someone was leaving fast out of the house," said Seth Rosenberg, with Dallas PD.

[...]

[ATTORNEY: "At no time did he indicate that Ms. Dykes was jealous of his womanizing, correct?"]

"No," said Fredrick Chapman, Beltran's friend.

Prosecutors say they still have more character witnesses to call to the stand to testify.

They intend to rest their case on Monday.

Before they do that, they expect Beltran to take the stand.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 6, 2023

Day 2 of Trial continues for woman accused of murder in the death of Marisela Botello

The trial for Lisa Dykes, who is one of three people accused of killing Marisela Botello, a 23-year-old Seattle woman who went missing in October 2020, began on Tuesday.

www.nbcdfw.com

[...]

On day two of the trial, Kathy DeLeon was the first witness to testify. DeLeon was Dykes hairdresser and confidant.

“There were a lot of stories, a lot of intimate stories Lisa told me about,” DeLeon said.

DeLeon said her client slowly became someone she did not recognize.

[...]

Prosecutors also called in Dakston Stevens, a friend of Beltran. Stevens said he was familiar with the relationship between Beltran and Dykes and a love triangle with Marano.

[...]

On Wednesday, pictures of Dykes home and Beltran’s bedroom were shown to the jury.

The jury also viewed pictures of a hair tie, blue press-on nails, and the black trash bag where human remains were found in a field in Wilmer.

[...]

 

[Niner]

Thursday, Dec. 7th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ 9:30am ET) – TX – Marisela Botello-Valadez (23) (Missing Oct. 5, 2020 while visiting ex in Dallas from Seattle, found deceased on Mar. 24, 2021 in a wooded area near E. Belt Line Rd & Post Oak Rd in Wilmer, TX) - *Lisa Jo Ahmed Dykes (57/now 60) (aka Lisa Beltran & Lisa Ahmed) arrest warrant out (3/25/21) & arrested (in Orange County, FL on 3/27/21), charged (3/27/21) & indicted (6/14/21) with murder & tampering with physical evidence. $500K bond. Released (5/4/21) on bond & must wear ankle monitor. On 12/27/21 Bond held insufficient & bond not allowed. Warrant out for arrest; cut off ankle bracelet & has fled. Extradited back in Texas on 5/24/22. Bond set at $4M.
Botello was killed after leaving a Deep Ellum bar in Oct. 2020. Surveillance video showed Charles Beltran & Marisela leaving together, but it was unclear what happened to Botello.
Trial began on 12/4/23 with jury selection. A 12-person jury & 2 alternates (6 women & 8 men).
Trial began on 12/5/23 with opening statements.
Judge Nancy Mulder. DA Robin R. Pittman & Defense attorney Heath Harris, retained.
Case & Court info from 3/24/21 to 11/20/23 & Trial Day 1 (12/5/23) reference post #681 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...from-seattle-5-oct-2020-arrest.547153/page-35
12/5/23 Tuesday, Trial Day 1: Opening statements by DA Robin R. Pittman & Defense attorney Heath Harris.
State witnesses: Ernestina Valadez Frutos, Marisela's mother. Dennesly Castillo, Botello’s aunt. Raul Ortiz, friend of Marisela she was visiting. Rosa Maria Martinez, Dykes' former co-workers at a law firm. Garrick Whaley, criminal investigator with the Dallas County DA's Office. Dr. Elizabeth Ventura with the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences on autopsy.
For more info see post #686 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...from-seattle-5-oct-2020-arrest.547153/page-35
12/6/23 Wednesday, Trial Day 2: State witnesses: Kathy DeLeon, hairstylist. Dakston Stevens, was with Beltran the night he met Botello. Fredrick Chapman, Beltran's friend. DPD crime scene analyst Julia Wayland. Dallas County Crime Lab forensic biologist Amanda Webb.
For more info see posts #690 & 691 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...from-seattle-5-oct-2020-arrest.547153/page-35
Trial continues on Thursday, 12/7/23.
*Charles Anthony Beltrán (31/now 34) – Pretrial hearing on 4/4/24 & trial set to begin on 4/15/24.
*Nina Tamar Marano (49/now 52) – Pretrial hearing on 1/25/24. & trial set to begin on 2/20/24.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"It shows a positive reaction," DPD crime scene analyst Julia Wayland said.

A forensics expert testified multiple blood samples matched Botello’s DNA.

"You would have to have more than 10 trillion people before you would expect another person to match that DNA profile in the same way," Dallas County Crime Lab forensic biologist Amanda Webb testified.

Investigators had a sample of Botello’s DNA from a used face mask. That DNA matched Botello’s remains that were found in a Dallas County field months after she was reported missing.

"The DNA profile came from that face mask that we previously used for comparison as her DNA profile, matched the DNA profile obtained from the tooth of her," Webb said.

"When she met Chuck she kind of started changing," said Kathy DeLeon. "She wanted me to completely shave the sides of her head and do a pompadour."

The state showed the jury a collage of pictures with Dykes' change in hair, makeup and clothing over a 2-year period.

Marisela Botello murder trial: Suspect changed for rapper boyfriend, 'dabbled' in witchcraft, witness says

The state called several character witnesses to the stand on Wednesday, trying to build the case that Lisa Dykes was a jealous woman, who ultimately murdered 23-year-old Marisela Botello in October 2020.

www.aol.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The hair stylist for Lisa Dykes described several changes the murder suspect went through after meeting boyfriend Charles Beltran. Dykes is accused of murdering Marisela Botello. Prosecutors say Dykes stabbed Botello in a jealous rage after she found her in bed with Beltran.

DeLeon said Dykes changed after meeting Beltran and talked about her details of her three-way relationship with Beltran and Marano.

"She caught Chuck and Nina in bed together," said DeLeon. "When she was telling me this, she was like I could just kill her, and I was like wait slow down a minute I was like, you sound a little aggressive here."

The defense argued that Beltran was well-known as a ladies man and that Dykes was aware that he was sleeping with other women.

A friend of Beltran testified that Dykes' house was used to shoot a provocative music video for one of Beltran's songs.

Marisela Botello murder trial: Suspect, girlfriend knelt in front of Grim Reaper statue in home, witness says

Lisa Dykes is accused of murdering 23-year-old Marisela Botello, a Seattle woman who was visiting a friend in Dallas. Prosecutors say Dykes stabbed Botello after finding her in bed with her rapper boyfriend, Charles Beltran, in 2020.

www.fox4news.com

 

[PommyMommy]

Marisela Botello murder trial: Day 3​

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[PommyMommy]

DEC 7, 2023

Marisela Botello murder trial: Suspect, girlfriend knelt in front of Grim Reaper statue in home, witness says

Lisa Dykes is accused of murdering 23-year-old Marisela Botello, a Seattle woman who was visiting a friend in Dallas. Prosecutors say Dykes stabbed Botello after finding her in bed with her rapper boyfriend, Charles Beltran, in 2020.

www.fox4news.com

[...]

The jury was shown surveillance video of Botello entering a Dallas-area 7-Eleven with Charles Beltran at around 1:20 a.m. on Oct. 5, 2020, just hours before prosecutors argue Dykes killed Botello in a jealous rage.

Dallas police detectives explained how they traced the victim's final movements using a license read to get a hit on Beltran's ID.

"We pulled the license plate picture of Mr. Beltran and it matched the person who walked with Marisela to that 7-Eleven that morning," said Det. Stephen Prince, with the Dallas Police Department.

[...]

In court Thursday, it was revealed that Beltran was dating another woman at the time Botello disappeared from Deep Ellum.

That woman, whose identity was not disclosed in court, testified she was supposed to meet up with Beltran at 2 a.m. when she got off work.

[...]

Marano owned a home in Pennsylvania prior to moving in with Dykes and Beltran in Texas.

Her next door neighbor, a real estate agent, testified that days after Botello was killed, Marano called her in a panic about the Pennsylvania home.

"She just said that it had to be listed right away. It seemed urgent," said Jamie Scarpa.

[...]

On March 25, the women were arrested in Florida.

"Door opened up, she came out, she was cooperative," Orange County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Scott Ames said.

Dykes’ younger brother testified that, for many years, she helped him out financially, but in March 2021, she called him asking for money, hours before her arrest.

"Later on in the day, the police showed up and told us what was going on," Jimmy Dykes recalled. "All my years of life, I would never dream such a thing could transpire."

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

DEC 7, 2023

Day 3: ‘Anonymous' girlfriend testifies in Marisela Botello murder trial

The trial for Lisa Dykes, who is one of three people accused of killing Marisela Botello, a 23-year-old Seattle woman who went missing in October 2020, continued Thursday with the testimony from a Dallas Police detective and the girlfriend of one of three people accused in the woman’s death.

www.nbcdfw.com

[...]

One of Beltran's girlfriends, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear, was also called up as a witness on Thursday.

She told the court she met Beltran at a club and was dating him for several months. According to the woman, they had plans to meet on the night of Oct. 4. She said she did not hear from Beltran until the next day.

[...]

The pair traveled to New Orleans in a white SUV. However, she said they only spent one night there. The woman said Beltran stepped away to answer a call however, noticed his demeanor changed.

“I asked him what’s going on,” the woman said. “He just said I need you to go back to Dallas.”

The woman was instructed to drive back in the SUV and drop it off outside the Mesquite home. She said she later made her way back to Louisiana to pick up Beltran.

Beltran and the woman would drive to Pennsylvania.

“I asked him again. I'm like, ‘Hey what’s going on’. He kind of got mad,” the woman said. “He raised his voice at me. He had never done that. He said, ‘Stop questioning me’.”

[...]

Testimony continued Thursday afternoon from a former roommate of Dykes and additional investigators on the case.

 

[Niner]

snipped by me...

Testimony continued Thursday afternoon from a former roommate of Dykes and additional investigators on the case.

At least they (reporter) could have given us some names!!! Geez... LOL! Maybe tomorrow's article will include them.

And THANKS again for all the articles! I could access all of them!

 

[Niner]

Friday, Dec. 8th:
*Trial continues (Day 4) (@ 9:30am ET) – TX – Marisela Botello-Valadez (23) (Missing Oct. 5, 2020 while visiting ex in Dallas from Seattle, found deceased on Mar. 24, 2021 in a wooded area near E. Belt Line Rd & Post Oak Rd in Wilmer, TX) - *Lisa Jo Ahmed Dykes (57/now 60) (aka Lisa Beltran & Lisa Ahmed) arrest warrant out (3/25/21) & arrested (in Orange County, FL on 3/27/21), charged (3/27/21) & indicted (6/14/21) with murder & tampering with physical evidence. $500K bond. Released (5/4/21) on bond & must wear ankle monitor. On 12/27/21 Bond held insufficient & bond not allowed. Warrant out for arrest; cut off ankle bracelet & has fled. Extradited back in Texas on 5/24/22. Bond set at $4M.
Botello was killed after leaving a Deep Ellum bar in Oct. 2020. Surveillance video showed Charles Beltran & Marisela leaving together, but it was unclear what happened to Botello.
Trial began on 12/4/23 with jury selection. A 12-person jury & 2 alternates (6 women & 8 men).
Trial began on 12/5/23 with opening statements.
Judge Nancy Mulder. DA Robin R. Pittman & Defense attorney Heath Harris, retained.
Case & Court info from 3/24/21 to 11/20/23 & Trial Day 1-2 (12/5-12/6/23) reference post #692 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...from-seattle-5-oct-2020-arrest.547153/page-35
12/7/23 Thursday, Trial Day 3: State witnesses: Det. Stephen Prince, with the Dallas Police Dept. Prosecutors showed the video showin Marisela leaving a bar in Deep Ellum with Dykes' boyfriend, Charles Beltran. Beltran was dating another woman at the time Botello disappeared from Deep Ellum. Anonymous woman, whose identity was not disclosed in court, testified she was supposed to meet up with Beltran at 2am when she got off work. Jamie Scarpa, next door neighbor at Marano's Pennsylvania home. Orange County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Scott Ames. Jimmy Dykes, Lisa's younger bro. Former roommate (no name given) of Dykes.
The prosecution plans to call Charles Beltran to the stand at some point during the trial. z` 1qThe defense has indicated that Dykes may also take the stand in her own defense.
For more info see posts #695 to 697 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...from-seattle-5-oct-2020-arrest.547153/page-35
Trial continues on Friday, 12/8/23.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Marisela Botello murder trial: Day 4 Livestream | FOX 4

Three years after Marisela Botello's death, the first of three murder trials for suspects in her death is set to continue on Thursday. Botello was killed aft...

www.youtube.com