Texas teen whose mom was found dead in trunk after car chase is charged with murder

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (TCD) -- A 17-year-old who was arrested following a car chase in Nebraska has officially been charged with murder in connection with his mother’s death.

On Oct. 21, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez announced Tyler Roenz now faces murder and tampering with evidence charges after his mother, Michelle Roenz, was found deceased in the trunk of the car involved in the chase. Tyler Roenz was arrested in Nebraska and reportedly remains in custody of the Nebraska State Police. He will be extradited back to Texas, Gonzalez said.

Tyler and Michelle Roenz were reported missing Oct. 13 out of Harris County, and the next day, Nebraska State Police troopers located the Mazda the two were believed to be traveling in and engaged in a high-speed chase. Nebraska State Police said the car fled "with speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour."

After 9 miles, the Mazda hit a semitruck and then crashed into a tree. Tyler reportedly suffered "severe injuries" and troopers discovered Michelle’s body in the trunk of the car.

Tyler was initially charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle. According to the criminal complaint, Tyler’s father, Manfred Roenz, came home Oct. 13 and saw his car was missing. He reportedly went into the garage and saw a human tooth and a "trail of blood from the garage to the master bedroom," where he found at least four more human teeth on the carpet.

He called 911 and reported them missing.

The criminal complaint said Tyler was "prohibited from traveling in the vehicle outside of Harris County."

Harris County deputies responded to the residence and reportedly found "other signs of apparent foul play."

According to the criminal complaint for the murder charge, an autopsy determined Michelle Roenz died from blunt force trauma to the head and strangulation. Her manner of death was deemed homicide.

Michelle Roenz reportedly had ligature marks on her neck as well as a broken hyoid bone, "both of which are indicative of strangulation."

Harris County Sheriff’s Office detectives reportedly interviewed Tyler Roenz at the hospital in Omaha and he allegedly "refused to provide any details of [Michelle Roenz’s] injuries, other than admitting that he did not only use his hands" and that she "did not get into the trunk of the vehicle on her own."

The complaint says Tyler drove northbound with his mother in the trunk and "felt no emotion."

MORE: