local
Jury convicts Houston man Erik Arceneaux of murdering then girlfriend Maria Rodriguez
By Jaewon Jung at KPRC Click2Dallas-Fort Worth
· July 3, 2026
· 3 min read
Nearly eight years after Houston mother Maria Rodriguez disappeared without a trace, a Harris County jury found her then-boyfriend Erik Arceneaux guilty of murdering her.On Thursday, jurors found Arceneaux guilty of murder after less than three hours of deliberation, bringing an end to a case pro...
Key takeaway Rodriguez, 29, was reported missing in June 2018 after she dropped off her young daughter at a babysitter’s home in northeast Houston and never showed up for work.
Why this matters in Bellaire News
The guilty verdict in the Erik Arceneaux trial brings a measure of closure to the family of Maria Rodriguez, a Houston mother who disappeared in 2018. For residents of Bellaire , this case serves as a stark reminder of the darker side of life in the greater Houston area, where violent crime can occur in any neighborhood. The fact that prosecutors were able to secure a conviction without recovering Rodriguez's remains is a testament to the power of digital evidence in modern homicide investigations. As a community that values the safety and well-being of its residents, Bellaire will likely take note of the role that cellphone data and surveillance video played in solving this case. The city's own police department may draw lessons from the Harris County investigation, potentially informing its approach to future missing persons cases and homicide investigations within Bellaire's borders.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC Click2Dallas-Fort Worth . Bellaire News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC Click2Dallas-Fort Worth . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 3, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC Click2Dallas-Fort Worth ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Nearly eight years after Houston mother Maria Rodriguez disappeared without a trace, a Harris County jury found her then-boyfriend Erik Arceneaux guilty of murdering her.On Thursday, jurors found Arceneaux guilty of murder after less than three hours of deliberation, bringing an end to a case pro...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 3, 2026 by KPRC Click2Dallas-Fort Worth and curated for Bellaire News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jaewon Jung at KPRC Click2Dallas-Fort Worth. To learn more about how Bellaire News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Bellaire News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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