Married couple Nina Marano, 50, and Lisa Dykes, 58, allegedly murdered Marisela Botello-Valadez and tampered with evidence. On December 25, the couple fled while out of jail on their $500,000 bonds and are now missing.
The victim, 23-year-old Botello, flew to Dallas from her home in Seattle in October of 2020 to visit a friend. According to NBC DFW, her friend stated that a Lyft driver picked her up from his residence to bring her to a bar to meet up with other friends on October 4, 2020. She never came back and missed her flight back home. According to court documents, Botello was last seen at a bar in Deep Ellum alone, and allegedly left with a man named Charles Beltran.
Months later, in March 2021, Botello’s remains were found in the woods in Wilmer, close to Post Oak Road and East Belt Line Road. Forensic analysis of her remains showed that she was the victim of a fatal stabbing. Fox 4 reported that Beltran lives in the same house as Marano and Dykes. According to the arrest affidavit, “a search of Beltran’s and Dyke’s residence revealed that the carpet had been cleaned, but streaks of brown and red color, the appearance of blood, were underneath the carpet.” DNA results proved it to be the blood of Botello.
According to court documents, Marano and Dykes “have shown a pattern of avoidance” regarding the case of Botello. While the investigation was going on, they left the state and were found in Florida. Now, while on bond, they are both missing once again. Charles Beltran remains in jail.
The married couple bailed out of jail in May of 2021. This past Christmas morning, within only four minutes of each other, both of their ankle monitors became disabled. The company of the monitors tried reaching out to them and received no response.
Dennesly Castillo, the victim’s aunt, stated, “Until we have them back in custody and they are finally given a sentence, I don’t think there’s going to be any closure for us.”