SAN ANTONIO – More than seven years after Elizabeth Contreras was found dead in a wooded area off Old Corpus Christi Road, the man accused in her killing is set to face a jury for the second time.
Guadalupe Contreras, arrested in August 2017, is charged with the murder of his wife, 39-year-old Elizabeth Contreras. According to an arrest affidavit, authorities described the case as “a dangerous love affair that ended with homicide.”
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Elizabeth and Guadalupe had a complicated history. He previously had children with her half-sister, and Elizabeth, who had been married with a child of her own, later ended her marriage to marry Guadalupe. However, at the time of her death, Elizabeth had moved back in with her ex-husband while still seeing Guadalupe.
A Timeline of Events
Elizabeth was last seen alive on Aug. 2, 2017, and reported missing the following day.
On Aug. 4, 2017, her vehicle was found abandoned on the side of a highway, with blood inside. Days later, some of her clothing and parts of her cellphone were discovered in the Olmos Basin area.
On Aug. 8, 2017, Elizabeth’s body was found. Investigators used cellphone data from Elizabeth’s phone and GPS records from Guadalupe’s delivery truck to trace Elizabeth’s final movements.
Authorities believe the two met on Chive Drive, off Old Corpus Christi Road, where blood was later found. They allege Guadalupe then moved Elizabeth’s car to the location where her body was left before abandoning the vehicle along I-37 and discarding her belongings.
Guadalupe was arrested and charged on Aug. 11, 2017.
Trial Delays and Mistrial
The case faced multiple delays before finally going to trial in 2023. However, the proceedings ended in a mistrial four days in, when it was revealed that aerial video of the crime scene had not been provided to the defense. The footage had been erased, and San Antonio police had never turned it over to prosecutors.
At a hearing in 2024, SAPD Detective Jose Espinosa was questioned about the missing evidence.
“You are the lead detective. You’re not accepting responsibility for your snafu, so who are we blaming it on?” an attorney asked in court.
Guadalupe’s defense team later attempted to block a retrial, arguing double jeopardy, but an appeals court denied the challenge.
Retrial Begins
The retrial is set to begin Wednesday, with much of the same evidence and witnesses expected to be presented to a new jury.
If convicted, Guadalupe Contreras faces between five and 99 years or life in prison.
You can watch the trial on KSAT.com, KSAT Plus and KSAT’s YouTube channel.