Police seek person of interest in Rosenberg woman's death

ROSENBERG, Texas – Police said Thursday they are looking for a person of interest in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found inside a burning Rosenberg home earlier this month.

The burned body of 32-year-old Nancy Dean was found on the night of Sept. 4 inside her Cotter Lane home.

Investigators said they believe that Dean was killed and her killer was trying to destroy evidence of the crime.

KPRC2 learned that police had interviewed the father of 51-year-old Valentine Gonzales Jr., a convicted sex offender who lives a block away from Dean’s home.

Gonzales’ father told KPRC2 that his son admitted to police that he was cutting grass near Dean’s home ont the day she was killed.

On Thursday, investigators named Gonzales as a person of interest in Dean’s death. However, police said they cannot find him. His last known location was on Interstate 35 in the New Braunfels area.

KPRC2 talked to a neighbor, who did not want to be identified. She said Gonzalez also cut her grass the same day of the fire and had done so several times before.

“I thought of him like a 14 year old boy, honestly. I looked at him like a kid in a man's body. I didn't think he was smart. I didn't think he was evil either,” the neighbor said.

A warrant was issued for Gonzales’ arrest, charging him with third-degree failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.

Anyone with information regarding Gonzales’ whereabouts was asked to call Rosenberg police at 832-595-3700.


About the Authors:

Award-winning journalist, adventure seeker, explorer, dog lover.