25 notorious San Antonio crimes

Carlos Uresti’s Pyramid Scheme
After years of scandals and pressure for action to be taken, former state senator Carlos Uresti was found guilty of 11 counts of fraud and money laundering charges for his role in the FourWinds Ponzi scheme. Investors, including a woman he had an affair with, of the defunct fracking sand company lost their money while Uresti and others profited. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Photo by Alex Zielinski

The Sexual Assault Blamed on Dogs
A horrific child abuse case has stayed with San Antonians since news broke. On December 31, 2016, Crystal Herrera called 911 and said her daughter, only 21 months, had been attacked by dogs after she wandered off. When authorities arrived at the home, they saw that the child had multiple injuries to her genital and anal area. Doctors who treated the child quickly realized that Herrera’s story and the baby’s injuries didn’t add up, determining that the toddler had suffered brutal sexual assault. She also had stab wounds on her upper body and genital area, which doctors said were intentional. An investigation found that Herrera’s boyfriend, Isaac Andrew Cardenas, had committed the crime. He was convicted of super aggravated sexual assault of a child and is currently in jail.
Photo via Bexar County Jail

The Lovers’ Lane Killer
Juan Castilo was a young man when, in 2003, he tried to rob Tommy Garcia, who had parked his car on a remote road known as “Lovers’ Lane.” Prosecutors said Garcia was set up by his girlfriend at the time, who reportedly conspired with Castillo and two others to lure him with the promise of sex and drugs. Castillo attempted to rob Garcia, but shot him seven times when he refused and tried running away. Castillo maintained his innocence up until his death row execution in 2018.
Photo via Texas Department of Justice

The 18-Wheeler Human Smuggling Case
James Matthew Bradley Jr. was driving an 18-wheeler full of undocumented migrants. when he pulled into a Walmart parking lot on the city’s South Side. While some fled the scene as soon as they arrived, police at the scene discovered 38 people packed into the truck’s windowless, sweltering trailer. In total, 10 men died from the incident and dozens more were left with serious heat-related injuries. Bradley claimed to have not known what was inside the trailer, and said he only discovered the migrants when he pulled over to use the bathroom and heard banging noises. Bradley was later sentenced to life in prison for his role in the human trafficking case.
Photo via ABC 13

The Murder of Otto Koehler
Otto and Emma Koehler lived a happy life, as Otto was the president of the Pearl Brewery in its heyday in the 20th century. Emma Koehler was in an automobile accident in 1910, prompting Otto to hire a live-in nurse named Emmi. Emmi and Otto soon started an affair. Emmi introduced Otto to her blonde friend also named Emma, and who Otto also had an affair with. The brewery man set up Emmi and Emma with a house, at which got into an argument with blonde Emma, who shot him in November 1914. She skipped town and left to Europe where she nursed World War I casualties. She eventually returned four years later, standing trial and being found not guilty. Emma Koehler, Otto’s widow, took over the brewery and operated it with much success before handing over the control to a nephew in 1933. For her hard work, the Hotel Emma was named after her.
Photo via Twitter / HistoricPearl