Rocksprings Man Jailed for Stabbing, Killing Mother

A Rocksprings man has been arrested for murder after confessing to police that he stabbed his mother following a fight over his alcohol consumption on Sept. 29.

The suspect, 25-year-old Joseph Joel Arrevalos, showed up at the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 11:42 p.m. Tuesday with blood on his clothes, face and hands, an affidavit for a search warrant penned by Texas Ranger Roger Dixon states. Arrevalos then made a report with a dispatcher, during which he stated that his mother was unresponsive at the house the two shared at 809 N. Well St. Arrevelos, the dispatcher noted, had several cuts and lacerations on his hands, left arm and lower left leg.

According to the affidavit, Edwards County deputies Rowdy Tackett and Edward Martinez responded to the residence and found Arrevalos’ mother, Mildred Ruiz, lying on the floor next to her bed and suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest.

As they waited for EMS personnel to arrive, the deputies administered first aid on the 56-year-old victim, who was then transported to a hospital in San Antonio by ambulance, the affidavit states. While enroute to the hospital, Ruiz died of her wounds. She was pronounced dead by a San Antonio physician at 1 a.m.

Ranger Dixon, who had responded to the murder house just after midnight, accompanied Sheriff Elliott to the sheriff’s office and interviewed Arrevalos at 2:05 a.m. During that interview, Arrevalos told law enforcement that he had been drinking two to three quarts of beer when his mother arrived home from work at 9 p.m. Ruiz then began arguing with her son over his alcohol consumption, he told Elliot and Dixon; he then confessed to stabbing his mother two to three times in the chest.

According to his statement, the stabbing took place between 9 and 10 p.m. Afterward, Arrevalos fled, he said, because he thought his mother would call the police. He stated that he was drunk and could not recall the specifics of the murder, the affidavit states.

Approximately 40 minutes after the stabbing, Arrevalos returned and found his mother unresponsive, he said. He then got a ride from his grandmother to the sheriff’s office and reported the incident, Sheriff Elllioitt said on Friday.

Deputies with the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office canvassed the neighborhood after the murder and came upon a 20-year-old man who lived nearby and reported seeing Arrevalos before the murder. He told police that Arrevalos had been acting strangely and was “spaced out,” apparently high on drugs. Arrevalos denied using any drugs when he was interviewed.

Arrevalos was incarcerated on the night of the murder. His bond has been set at $2 million by Edwards County Judge Souli Shanklin.

On Sept. 30, Ranger Roger Dixon obtained a search warrant for the house on N. Well St. The list of items sought in the search include blood, clothing with blood stains from the murder, rags or towels used to clean up, knives or other objects used as the murder weapon, hair, latent prints and illegal drugs and alcohol containers. 

The murder will be prosecuted by 452nd District Attorney Tonya Ahlschwede. Arrevalos has not yet been appointed counsel.