Relatives of 42-year-old Valeen Joy Tellez say the man accused of killing her once sat at their family gatherings — and they’re demanding investigators dig deeper.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio family is demanding justice after police say a woman was murdered inside a downtown hotel — by a man they once welcomed into their home.
The victim, 42-year-old Valeen Joy Tellez, was found Monday, November 3, just before 2 p.m., inside a room at the Best Western off South Laredo Street. According to an arrest affidavit, officers were responding to a “suicide in progress” call when they found Tellez lying in a pool of blood with an apparent stab wound to her neck.
Detectives say 50-year-old Jose Garcia Meza was still in the room with his wife when officers arrived. Police reported seeing Meza’s wife hugging him as Meza lay down on the floor and placed his arms at his sides. He had a self-inflicted wrist injury and was taken to the hospital.
Investigators say Meza’s wife told police her husband had been having an affair with Tellez for about two years, and that the two often used drugs together. Earlier that day, she said Meza sent her a video of himself and Tellez using drugs and told her he planned to kill himself. She called 911 and drove to the hotel.
Police say surveillance footage showed Meza and Tellez arriving at the hotel around 2 a.m. and walking together into a room. When officers searched it, they found two bloody cutting instruments, drug paraphernalia and a handwritten note in Spanish that read:
“She gave me crystal. It made me crazy. I didn’t know anything about drugs. I ask for forgiveness from everyone. I had never done any wrong before.”
Investigators say there was blood spatter throughout the room, indicating a struggle. While Meza was being treated at the hospital, he suffered a medical episode and was intubated. He has since been charged with murder.
For the Tellez family, the details are devastating — and the label of “murder-suicide” doesn’t sit right.
“To just be brushed off as a murder-suicide — it wasn’t that. I just know, I just know,” said Valeen’s sister, Evelyn Cadena.
Evelyn says Meza wasn’t a stranger.
“He sat at many family gatherings with us pretending to be someone that obviously he wasn’t,” she said.
Adding to the heartbreak, Valeen’s murder came just one day before the family buried their father.
“It’s hard. It’s really hard. It’s like a double-whammy on us,” Evelyn said.
Family members describe Valeen as a loving, funny, and compassionate woman with a gift for art and a heart for others.
“She was a loving sister, a loyal friend, someone who was always there when you needed them to be there,” Evelyn said. “She made a difference in everyone’s life she was in.”
Valeen’s daughters shared a message on GoFundMe:
“My mom was one of the most loving, funny and compassionate people you could ever meet. She had the biggest heart — always willing to help others, always putting family first, and always finding a way to make people laugh, even on the hardest days.”
Evelyn says her sister’s drawings were exceptional.
“I would often tell her she needs to put them in contests and let everybody see they’re that good,” she said. “I’m going to share them all with the family when we get together soon.”
“She was a great-grandmother, an awesome mother, a loving sister and someone’s daughter,” Evelyn added. “My mom is just torn apart about it especially. The truth will surface. It always does. It always comes to light.”
The family says they’re certain further investigation will reveal more about what happened inside that hotel room.
“Hope [investigators] see it the way we see it and do the research, do the investigating they need to do so he can be brought to justice — he and any other parties that were involved,” said Evelyn.
Valeen’s loved ones say they’ll continue to honor her with love, truth, and peace.
“Somebody needs to pay for this,” Evelyn said. “There are so many stones left unturned.”
Jose Garcia Meza, 50, remains in custody on a $250,000 bond.
Tellez’s family is raising funds to help cover cremation and memorial costs. Donations can be made through their GoFundMe page.