The family of a Texas woman is demanding justice after she allegedly became a victim of domestic violence. The body of Christelrose Angel Ramirez was found in a barrel in the woods after she was allegedly shot by her boyfriend. She had been sleeping at the time of the shooting, and her boyfriend made a great effort to attempt to dispose of her body. And he didn’t act alone in getting rid of her body; he enlisted the help of his own family. But it seems that assistance was reluctant. Now, he’s facing charges related to the killing.
Houston police officers found the body of 41-year-old Ramirez on the morning of December 10, 2025, Fox 26 Houston reported. Ramirez’s family spoke with the outlet, confirming she was a victim of domestic violence. They claim she was shot in her sleep by her boyfriend Jesus Varela, and that he then placed her body into trash bags and then into a barrel before dumping it on Interstate 45.
According to court documents, Varela allegedly killed Ramirez on December 1, the outlet reported. Her family said they hadn’t heard from her in 11 days, and her father grew concerned when she stopped posting on Facebook.
“She didn’t deserve to die the way she did because she was a beautiful young lady,” Ricardo Ramirez shared. “I mean, she had her life in front of her. You know, I’m going to bring her home.”
The victim’s family is speaking out to highlight how deadly domestic violence can be. They started a GoFundMe account, noting that Ramirez “lost her life in a tragic act of domestic violence.” They explained that her father and sister were the ones tasked with identifying her body.
“We are heartbroken by the circumstances surrounding her passing, and our family is struggling to cope with this unimaginable loss,” the family wrote on the page.
Court documents state that Varela tried to force his nephew to help dispose of Ramirez’s body and other evidence, KPRC reported. Officials said he allegedly asked family to help him get rid of the mattress she had been sleeping on. He also allegedly physically assaulted and threatened that relative while trying to get help.
During a probable cause hearing, the court said Varela allegedly grabbed the person by the shirt. He then “told them he had already killed one person and wanted to kill another,” the outlet reported. A family member alerted police to Varela’s threats, leading to his December 6 arrest.
Ramirez’s family told KPRC that police had been called for a domestic violence incident, but she was the one arrested. Her father told Fox 26 Houston that his daughter “sensed her death was soon.” The couple had been on and off since 2019.
Varela has been charged with felony murder, tampering with evidence, assault against a family member, and unlawful restraint. He is facing a $200,000 bail for tampering, $40,000 for assault, and $5,000 for unlawful restraint. No bail amount for the murder charge has been given.
He is currently on an immigration hold, and was supposed to appear in court on December 15.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of domestic abuse, you can find help and support at DVIS.org, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or by contacting your local women’s shelter (domesticshelters.org).
