On February 19, 2022, 47-year-old Patricia Blanco of Robstown, Texas, was shot and killed in her home at about 2:30 a.m. Responding officers found her with a single gunshot wound. Her boyfriend, Torivio Leal, who was heavily intoxicated, called 911 and said his revolver accidentally discharged while he was handling it.

Leal was initially arrested and charged with manslaughter after the shooting. The investigation continued, and on July 11, 2024, a Nueces County grand jury returned an indictment upgrading the charge to murder. The case is assigned to the 28th District Court, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for August 29, 2024, and a trial set for September 16, 2024.

Blanco was known locally as a hairstylist and her death has deeply affected family, friends, and the community. Does anyone in Robstown have information about Patricia’s movements that night or contacts who might help the investigation?