New Information Is Case Of Woman's Body Found Near Lake Overholser

A big break in the investigation surrounding the death of a woman whose body was found in April near Lake Overholser.

Right now, her accused killer is behind bars in Texas.

Oklahoma County prosecutors filed first-degree murder charges at the courthouse late Wednesday afternoon. The claim Juan Carlos Garcia Jr. killed his girlfriend Karen DeLeon and then dumped her body. And court papers allege Garcia's own father was afraid he would hurt or kill his family too.

"The last time I talk to the girl was right there at the driveway," said Alexandra Reynolds, who lives next door. "And I told her, ‘You don't know what you are getting into.'"

Reynolds lives right next door to the home Karen DeLeon shared with Garcia and his father. She says even the father was afraid of his son's violent tendencies, and was glad when he was told his son was behind bars.

4/29/2013 Related Story: Death Of Woman Found Near Lake Overholser Is Homicide 

"He was relieved, he actually was relieved," Reynolds said. "He said, ‘I knew something bad was going to happen.'"

"I think he was afraid that when he was in Mexico, that he might harm his daughter and the mom down there," said Mary Jordan, who also lives next door.

She says she's glad Garcia has finally been caught.

"My heart goes out to the family, the mom and dad," said Jordan. "I didn't know them, but they are in my prayers and I talked to her twice. She was a lovely girl."

A person picking up trash found DeLeon's body dumped in a field off Morgan Rd. near Lake Overholser back in April. And neighbors say Garcia disappeared shortly thereafter.

It took authorities almost three months to find him, but Oklahoma County prosecutors confirm Juan Carlos Garcia Jr. was finally arrested in Webb County, Texas. That's around the Laredo Area near the Texas Mexico Border.

DeLeon's family is still too devastated to talk, but neighbors are relieved Garcia is finally behind bars, and not hiding out in Mexico.

Oklahoma County prosecutors are trying to get Garcia brought back here to OKC from Texas, but the head prosecutor tells me so far he's fighting extradition.

The Medical Examiner's office released DeLeon's cause of death as acute methamphetamine intoxication. They list the manner of death as ‘unknown'.

7/11/2013 Related Story: Man Arrested In Texas, Charged With Murder Of Woman Found At Lake Overholser