Mayra Velasquez leaves the Lon Evans Corrections Center in Fort Worth on Wednesday morning.
ARLINGTON, Texas - A North Texas real estate agent charged in a cold case murder has been was released from jail on bond.
Arlington Cold Case Murder
What's new:
Mayra Velasquez, who is charged with capital murder, was released on Wednesday morning after posting her $450,000 bond.
Her attorney said she’ll wear an ankle monitor and must remain in Dallas or Tarrant counties while awaiting trial.
The backstory:
Valasquez was arrested on July 16 for the 2012 murder of her friend, 32-year-old Irasema Chavez.
Chavez was found dead in her apartment near South Collins Street and East Timber View Lane. She had been stabbed more than 100 times.
In 2012, Arlington police shared photos from a security camera that showed someone in baggy clothing entering Chavez’s apartment on the night before the murder, but they were never able to identify a suspect.
Investigators said they’ve now linked Velasquez to the crime with DNA from both a fresh drop of blood at the crime scene, genetic testing, and a discarded plastic fork from her trash.
Police are still working to determine a motive but said they are convinced Valasquez is their suspect. They are not looking for anyone else.
Arlington cold case murder suspect IDed with drop of blood, discarded fork
Arlington police arrested Mayra Valasquez for the 2012 cold case capital murder of Irasema Chavez after using genetic genealogy to match DNA from a crime scene blood droplet to a discarded plastic fork.
The other side:
Valasquez’s attorney claims she’s been wrongly accused and said the conclusions police have made are flawed.
"I think they jumped the gun and that they have overlooked some of the critical issues," Attorney Frank Seller said. "Blood dries fast. Blood dries within minutes, certainly within an hour. And the fact that over 10 hours later they're saying that there is a glistening drop of blood that's still wet, that tells us right away that I'm not even convinced it's blood."
He also pointed to the security video that he said appears to show a male, rather than his client.
Valasquez has no prior criminal history, her attorney said.
North Texas realtor charged in 14-year-old Arlington murder challenges DNA evidence
A North Texas real estate agent charged in a 14-year-old Arlington murder case is challenging DNA evidence and seeking release from jail as her attorney disputes investigators' conclusions.
The Source: The information in this story comes from Arlington police, the suspect's attorney, and video taken outside the Lon Evans Corrections Center in Fort Worth.