Mexican citizen wanted for murder of Mesquite woman

MESQUITE, Texas – Authorities are searching for a fugitive wanted for the murder of a mother of four.

Authorities believe the suspect, a Mexican citizen, is hiding in Mexico.

Nancy Ayala, a mother of four, was shot last week while some of her children were with her in her Mesquite apartment.

Police identified her long-time boyfriend Samuel Tovar as a suspect. He is the father of one of her children. Tovar is on the run.

Ayala's cousin, who asked FOX4 not to show her face and not to use her name, has the surveillance video from Ayala's apartment. It's too graphic to broadcast, but it shows the apparent suspect with a gun in his hand.

“They had an argument, but it was like any other couple that has a disagreement,” she said. “It got to the point where he hit her, pointed his gun at her and dragged her away.”

Ayala was shot in front of the entrance. A video from another apartment shows the police on site.

Ayala fought for her life for almost a week. However, she died in hospital last Saturday.

“We still had faith that she would make it, simply because she had fought for so long,” said Ayala’s cousin.

A law enforcement source told FOX 4 that Tovar is a Mexican citizen. Ayala's family says he is originally from a Mexican village called Bocas, near San Luis Potosi, about 900 miles from North Texas.

“We believe he has connections and that he has friends and family that will most likely help him get to the border and to his hometown,” Ayala's cousin said.

Ayala's family hopes for a cure, but that can only begin once her suspected murderer is caught.

“Because he has to pay for what he did,” said Ayala’s cousin.

Anyone with information about the case or Tovar's whereabouts is asked to contact Mesquite Police.