40-year-old man sought in connection with his ex-girlfriend death in SW Houston, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities need help finding a man they believe shot his ex-girlfriend to death last month in southwest Houston.

The Houston Police Department said 40-year-old Roger Betancourt-Castillo faces a murder charge in connection with the death of his 56-year-old ex-girlfriend, Miriam Martinez Pol, on Oct. 8.

According to police, the deadly shooting happened at about 5:20 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 8700 block of Gustine Lane.

Pol was allegedly found suffering from a gunshot wound when police responded to the scene. She was taken to Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center, where she died.

Castillo, Pol’s ex-boyfriend, was later identified as the suspect in the case and charged with her murder.

Detectives were able to find a video showing Castillo walk into her second-floor apartment, his shoes on her balcony with an indication of a scuffle, and him walking out, according to court records. That all happened in about a minute and a half.

The woman’s friend told police she was at the apartment when it happened. She said she was in the bathroom for the entirety of the encounter and only heard her friend scream. According to court records, she said she did not hear a gunshot but exited the bathroom to find Pol lying just inside the front door, bleeding.

Earlier on the day of the murder, there was an issue between Pol and Castillo, and she called the police. A report was taken.

HPD said Castillo remains at large and shared photos of him on Friday in hopes of finding him.

Both Pol and Castillo are from Cuba.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.