SELMA, Texas — Police say there's been a major break in a cold case murder of Army cadet and UIW student Joseph Banales.
More than a year after his death, authorities have arrested a man in connection with the case.
Details are limited at the moment, but the Selma Police Department say Jacob Daniel Serna, in his 30s, was arrested early Friday morning around 1:30 a.m. on a murder warrant related to Banales' death. His identity has not been released yet.
Banales was shot and killed on April 15th, 2023 while he was on I-35 in Selma. Police had not been able to identify anyone in connection to his murder. The cadet was heading home from a military ball when his car was shot at on the highway. Banales crashed and it was later discovered he had a gunshot wound to the head.
His family had put up $30,000 for tips in his case, and the U.S. Army offered an additional $25,000. Right now, we don’t know yet if that reward helped point to this man.
A detective with Selma PD says the city manager will be sending out a news release Friday morning.
Serna's bond has been set at $100,000.