Women Charged With Homicide After Mother Drowns in Vehicle

Brownwood, TX – Kathy Armendarez, 41, was charged with criminally negligent homicide after authorities say she abandoned her mother, Susan Smith,59, in a pickup when they encountered high water.

On the morning of May 12th Armendarez, her mother, and a male passenger were traveling in a pickup truck on County Road 257. Armendarez was driving when she encountered high water at the Ten Mile Crossing.

Armendarez and the male passenger escaped from the pickup and left Smith behind. Her body was found by searchers several days later in the back section of the pickup where she was riding on a jump seat. Authorities say that a barrier and sign warned of high water in the area.

San Angelo LIVE previously reported that the male passenger, 29, told firefighters that he and his girlfriend, Armendarez, were driving when they went around a roadblock and into the water. According to the male, he was the only one able to walk down the road for help because his girlfriend was swept away and held on to a bank until help came.

According to details that were made available at the time, Smith was not able to get out of the truck. The truck was then submerged and swept down the Pecan Bayou.

According to the Brownwood Bulletin Armendarez is currently free after posting a $5,000 bond.