A woman has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for her role in a deadly robbery that claimed the life of 21-year-old Arturo Pena.
The case, which began with an online connection between two people and ended in murder, has left the victim’s family shaken.
In the summer of 2023, Pena thought he was meeting a girl named Natalie Navarro, then 17 years old, for a date. The two had connected on social media, and what seemed like a typical meeting turned into a tragic betrayal.
Unknown to Pena, Navarro brought her boyfriend, then 21-year-old Yordy “Jordy” Martinez, to the rendezvous in Garland’s Audubon Park, where they planned to rob him, reported Fox 4 KDFW.
During the robbery, Pena was shot and killed by Martínez.
Afterward, Pena was reported missing in late August of 2023, with his family’s desperate search eventually leading to the discovery of his body two days later, abandoned in his car.
Investigators initially struggled to piece together the details of his disappearance, but tips from the public and cell phone footage soon pointed to Navarro and Martínez as the only suspects, per Fox.
The investigation took a bizarre twist when Navarro, who had been identified as a suspect, was later reported missing by her family, according to Law&Crime. Authorities issued an Amber Alert, and as investigators worked to locate her, the pair’s whereabouts remained unclear. Law enforcement officials eventually tracked Navarro down near the Mexico border, bringing her back to Dallas County.
On January 22, Navarro pled guilty to the murder charge and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. In her defense, Navarro’s legal team argued that Martínez had influenced her, but the court found her role in the deadly robbery plot undeniable.
Pena’s family, still processing their grief, expressed mixed emotions following the sentencing.
“I try not to think about it too much because it angers us,” adding, “I’m at peace knowing that it will be taken care of,” Lizbeth Pena, a cousin of Arturo, told Fox.
While justice has been handed down in Navarro’s case, the search for Martínez continues. Authorities believe Martínez fled the area shortly after the murder, with a possible destination being Mexico. Garland police have issued a capital murder warrant for his arrest, asking the public for help with any information via press release.
As the investigation continues, Navarro remains behind bars at the Dallas County jail, according to inmate records, awaiting transfer to a state prison.
Peña’s family, meanwhile, has vowed to continue fighting for justice, hopeful that Martínez will eventually face the consequences of the duo’s actions.
If you have any information or have seen Martínez, please contact Garland Police at 972-485-4840. You can also submit anonymous tips through Garland Crime Stoppers at www.garlandcrimestoppers.org or by calling 972-272-8477 (TIPS). A reward of up to $5,000 is available for tips that result in an arrest.