An anonymous Crime Stoppers tip this week pushed San Angelo police into a homicide investigation that quickly turned nightmarish. Detectives say the tip led them to a trash truck headed for the landfill, where they pulled out a bag of blood-soaked clothing and a human torso, then later uncovered more remains submerged in tubs of wet concrete. Officers arrested 31-year-old Audrey Troncoso at the scene and identified the victim as 34-year-old Roland Matthew Sheppard. Authorities say Troncoso allegedly admitted to shooting and stabbing Sheppard before dismembering his body.
Investigators say the tip initially pointed them to a dumpster that had already been emptied into a Republic Services trash truck. According to Tampa Free Press, officers intercepted the truck, searched it and found the torso along with the bloody clothing. The torso reportedly had distinctive tattoos that investigators said matched Sheppard.
An affidavit obtained by San Angelo LIVE! says detectives then executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1400 block of Parker Street. There, they reported finding additional human remains inside containers stored in a red Lincoln Navigator parked in the driveway. The affidavit alleges Troncoso told officers she mixed concrete and used it to submerge and hide the victim’s arms, legs and head inside plastic totes kept at the home.
During a custodial interview described by Law&Crime, Troncoso allegedly said she shot Sheppard in the facial area, stabbed him multiple times and used a saw and several knives to dismember his body. The outlet reports she was booked into the Tom Green County Jail, where she is being held on a 2 million dollar bond.
Father Arrested, Accused Of Helping Hide The Remains
Investigators later arrested 54-year-old Mario Valdes Troncoso Jr. on a charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. According to court records reviewed by San Angelo LIVE!, the affidavit alleges he helped after the killing by loading the torso into a dumpster at the Appletree Apartments and showing his daughter how to mix the concrete that was used to conceal the remains. His bond was set at 100,000 dollars.
How Detectives Say They Tracked The Torso
Police say they traced the torso back to a dumpster at the Appletree Apartments on Baker Street, then followed the trash truck to the Republic Services landfill on Old Ballinger Highway. There, they carried out a controlled search and recovered the torso along with additional bloody items. Investigators reportedly relied on photographs and tattoo comparisons to link the torso to Sheppard, and officers say social-media images tied the two together, according to reporting by Tampa Free Press.
Police Call Scene ‘Unusually Violent’ As Case Moves Forward
San Angelo police characterized the crime scene as unusually violent and say the investigation is still very much active while detectives continue to gather evidence and follow up on leads. Local coverage notes that prosecutors will review the affidavit and physical evidence as the case moves toward formal filings and court proceedings. Authorities have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers, and FOX 26 Houston reported on the arrests and early case details.
Legal Status
Court documents reviewed by local outlets include an affidavit listing a charge of first-degree murder tied to an alleged killing on or about last Tuesday. Troncoso remains in custody at the Tom Green County Jail while the probe continues. Her father faces a second-degree tampering-with-a-corpse charge, and both suspects remain jailed pending further court action, according to Law&Crime.
