Man involved in police chase connected to missing woman’s death, police say
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police say they’ve discovered a body that they believe belongs to a woman reported missing Friday, according to a tweet from the department.
San Juana Macias, 40, was last seen in the area of 1105 Clayton Lane on Friday evening. A day after police announced they were searching for her, officials discovered a body they believe is her.
Officials are waiting for official identification of the body from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office.
On Sunday, Austin detectives were called in to investigate suspicious circumstances in the disappearance of Macias by her ex-boyfriend, 40-year-old Jamie Jerome Wingwood.
Comments made to family members by Wingwood led them to believe Macias’ life was in danger, according to Austin Police.
APD Missing Persons was notified that Jefferson County, Texas officers were involved in a pursuit of a 2008 Maroon Honda Accord on Monday, a vehicle owned by Wingwood.
The pursuit lasted over an hour going from Beaumont, Orange County and into Louisiana, ending with Wingwood crashing his vehicle, authorities say. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office took Wingwood into custody.
On Tuesday, APD Missing Persons traveled to Louisiana to interview Wingwood. Detectives say Wingwood provided information leading the investigation to the Rodeway Inn at 6201 E US 290 in Austin.
Detectives found the body of a Hispanic woman with obvious trauma at the hotel and “tentatively believe it’s the body of San Juana Macias.