Police say a 34-year-old woman now faces charges after the discovery of two dead children in a burning car in west San Antonio.
SAN ANTONIO — A 34-year-old Edinburg woman faces charges of capital murder and arson after police say the bodies of her two children were found in a burning car in west San Antonio.
First responders were called out to the area of 500 Richland Hills, near Loop 410 and Highway 151, sometime between 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. Friday.
San Antonio Police Asst. Chief Jesse Salame said two dead children were confirmed to have been found in the vehicle. He initially said the two children were “school-aged,” but later gave an update that they are believed to be 5 and 7 years old.
Police said a 34-year-old woman — later identified as Marlene Vidal of Edinburg, Texas — was on the scene when they arrived; officers discovered she was connected to the vehicle and took her in for questioning. Authorities said evidence indicated Vidal “was solely responsible for the death of these two children,” adding mental health challenges “may have played a role.”
“Now the focus will shift on the extensive investigative work that is needed to ensure that we provide the strongest possible case to the district attorney’s office,” Salame said.
Vidal was eventually booked into the Bexar County jail, her bonds totaling $2.1 million.
Preliminary information from police indicated there may have been a third body in the car, but authorities later clarified there were bodies of two children.
The city’s Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence said the incident serves as a reminder “that family violence impacts everyone.”
“The solutions are not simple because the circumstances are often complex, especially when mental health support is needed,” the commission said in a statement.
The group went on to say that anyone impacted by family violence can call the 24/7 Family Violence Prevention Services hotline at (210) 733-8810 or visit FVPS.org.
“The emotional toll is significant, not only for the first responders and investigators, but for our entire community,” Salame said on Friday. “I know our community is gonna be hurting right now. Everyone’s gonna want to know why something like this happened. Unfortunately, the why is sometimes the hardest question to answer.”