Texas authorities are searching for two accused murderers who were out on bail and are believed to be on the run.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, KDFW and WFAA, court documents filed this week in Texas allege Nina Marano, 50, and her wife, 58-year-old Lisa Dykes, simultaneously removed their GPS trackers on Christmas Day.
WFAA
Dykes and Marano are two of the three people arrested in June 2021 by Dallas Police for their alleged involvement in the stabbing death of 23-year-old Marisela Botello-Valadez.
CBS Dallas
It has been reported that Botello-Valadez, last seen alive in Dallas on Oct. 4, 2020, was in town visiting a friend when two days after arriving, she took a Lyft from his home and never returned. Police also allege in an affidavit previously obtained by PEOPLE that Botello-Valadez was last seen leaving a club called Select Start with a man they believe was Beltran in the early morning hours of Oct. 5, 2020.
Detectives used cell phone records to determine Marano, Dykes and Beltran were with Botello-Valadez at the home of Dykes and Beltran in Mesquite, Texas, “on the last date [Botello-Valadez] was known to be alive.”
A search of Dykes’ and Beltran’s residence allegedly revealed the carpet had been cleaned, and there were blood stains beneath the carpet. The blood was a match for Botello-Valadez, the affidavit alleged.
Her body was found in a wooded area in Wilmer, Texas, five months later, on March 24, 2021. A motive for the killing, if known, has not been released by police.
WFAA
Police tried contacting the couple on Dec. 27, 2021, to no avail. On Jan. 4, Dallas County officials learned the couple had fled, per WFAA.
Dykes’ attorney, Heath Harris, spoke to Fox News Digital, and claimed that the batteries in his client’s ankle monitor died.
“I just hope that nothing’s happened to them, you know? I hope that they’re safe,” Harris said. “I hope that they can explain to the judge why they haven’t stayed in contact with the electronic monitoring people. And when the time comes for us to go to trial, they’ll be able to tell the story as far as that is concerned.”
Charles Anthony Beltran, 32, also charged in Botello-Valadez’s killing, remains in custody on $500,000 bond.
Marano and Dykes were out on house arrest after each posted $500,000 bonds for their release — bonds that officials now allege they have skipped.
