SUSPICIOUS DEATH
CASE #: 2016-11
Sarah Ann Gaitan
Status:
Open
Date of Death:
Date of Death:
Jurisdiction:
Guadalupe County
Death Location:
Marion Texas
Reward:
up to $5,000
via Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office Crime Stoppers
Not from STC, Conditions and restrictions apply
Summary:
Name: Sarah Gaitan Missing Since: October 2015 Body Discovered: March 2, 2016 – Hay field, Guadalupe County, TX Identity Confirmed: July 2018 via DNA testingLegal Development: In April 2023, Sarah’s former boyfriend, Willie Ray Wanzo, was indicted by a Guadalupe County grand jury on two felony charges: Tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse. Tampering with physical evidence.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Death:
Sarah Gaitan, a devoted mother of four from San Antonio, was known to occasionally leave for short periods — but she always returned, especially for her children and holidays. In October 2015, she left with her boyfriend at the time, Willie Ray Wanzo, and never came back. When Sarah missed Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, her family knew something was seriously wrong. Her aunt and advocate, Joann Zepeda, later shared that there had been ongoing concerns and unconfirmed rumors that Sarah was being exploited or trafficked. “…there was suspicion she was being trafficked.” — Joann Zepeda, Aunt Efforts to report Sarah missing were initially blocked. Joann was only allowed to file a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) in January 2016, helped by increased awareness during Human Trafficking Awareness Month and the support of the Heidi Search Center, which assisted with flyers and media outreach. On March 2, 2016, skeletal remains were discovered in a hay field in Guadalupe County. Investigators suspected the remains were Sarah’s based on dental comparisons, but DNA testing was not completed until July 2018. Later, the family learned that law enforcement had seized Wanzo’s vehicle, reviewed cell phone records, and matched his location data to the site where Sarah’s remains were found. Though no homicide charge has been filed, the case remains active. Sarah’s family continues to press for truth, accountability, and justice.
Additional Details:
The reward is up to $5000...At the time of Sarah's disappearance, Wanzo was the last known person to see her alive, according to investigators. He is currently serving a prison sentence on unrelated charges. The cause of Sarah’s death remains undetermined, and the investigation remains open.“The reason that it is going forward now is because there is a statute of limitations, and we did have evidence that showed that Willie Wonza was involved,” — Sgt. Zachary McBride, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office (CBS Austin, 2023)https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/sarah-gaitans-former-boyfriend-arrested-on-charges-related-to-her-death
Case Last Updated:
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