For the family of Benjamin Regalado, the arrest of a San Antonio man in a credit card probe feels like the first real crack in a wall of silence that has surrounded his 2024 killing. Relatives say the new development has made the case feel more tangible and could finally push people with buried information to step forward. "This isn't gonna go away," one daughter said, as the family vowed to keep pressing for justice.
San Antonio police arrested 36-year-old Taylor Rogers and charged him with unauthorized use of a vehicle and credit card abuse tied to the ongoing investigation, according to KENS5. Detectives told the station they linked financial transactions and a vehicle to the probe but have not filed murder charges in connection with Regalado's 2024 death. Police said tips and follow-up investigative work led to Rogers' arrest, and emphasized that the case remains very much open.
How Regalado's disappearance unfolded
Regalado, 64, was reported missing on March 18, 2024, and his body was discovered on March 31, 2024, in Olmos Creek behind the 500 block of Brookview Drive, according to KSAT. The Bexar County medical examiner ruled his death a homicide. Crime Stoppers San Antonio later offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest. Investigators have urged anyone with details to call 210-224-STOP (7867) or submit tips through the P3 Tips app.
Family reaction
Regalado's daughters told reporters that seeing someone arrested in connection with his car and credit cards gives them renewed faith that people who know more might finally talk, as detailed by KENS5. Family members said they found Regalado's keychain in the creek and that witnesses reported seeing multiple people driving his 2004 Toyota Avalon. Detectives told the station the Avalon was recovered at a motel on San Pedro Avenue in March 2024. Relatives called the latest arrest a fragile but meaningful step toward answers and warned they will keep pushing until the full truth comes out.
What the charges mean
Under Texas law, unauthorized use of a vehicle is a crime addressed in the Penal Code and is typically prosecuted as a state jail felony. Credit card or debit card abuse falls under a separate section of the Penal Code and can bring state jail penalties or more serious punishment depending on the facts of the case, according to state statutes. The provision on unauthorized vehicle use appears in Statutes of Texas, Penal Code §31.07, and the definition and elements of credit or debit card abuse are outlined in Texas Penal Code §32.31.
Investigators say their work is far from finished and are again asking the public for help. They specifically want to hear from anyone who may have seen Regalado's Toyota Avalon or noticed suspicious activity in March 2024. Crime Stoppers is still offering a reward for information leading to an arrest, and both detectives and family members are urging neighborhood residents with even small details to come forward to help close the case.
