An anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers has led to the arrest of a 31-year-old woman accused of killing her boyfriend, dismembering his body, and attempting to hide the pieces in a city dumpster and tubs of wet concrete.
The investigation began on June 24 when authorities received a tip claiming that Audrey Troncoso had shot 34-year-old Roland Matthew Shepard inside their shared apartment, cut up his body, and thrown part of his remains into a dumpster.
Acting quickly on the information, police rushed to locate the dumpster, only to find it had already been emptied into a trash truck that was actively driving toward a local landfill. Officers managed to track down and stop the truck before it could dump its load.
A search of the vehicle yielded a trash bag filled with blood-covered clothes and carpet, along with a human torso. The torso featured distinctive tattoos that matched the description of Shepard.
Following the grim discovery, detectives secured a search warrant for the home Troncoso and Shepard shared. In the driveway of the residence, police searched a vehicle and found additional human remains submerged inside tubs of wet concrete.
Troncoso was arrested at the scene. During a subsequent police interview, she allegedly admitted to shooting Shepard in the face, stabbing him, and using a saw and several knives to dismember him. Investigators state she also admitted to mixing the concrete herself in an attempt to conceal the remaining body parts inside plastic storage totes.
The next day, on June 25, the investigation expanded to Troncoso’s family. Her father, Mario Valdes Troncoso Jr., was arrested and charged with evidence tampering. Authorities believe he helped his daughter hide and dispose of Shepard’s remains.
While a clear motive for the killing has not yet been released by investigators, local officials emphasized the sheer severity of the crime scene. “This is one of the most violent homicides in recent memory that we’ve investigated here,” police told reporters.
Both suspects remain behind bars. Audrey Troncoso is being held on a $2 million bond, while court records show her father’s bond has been set at $100,000. The investigation into the killing remains active.
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