SAN ANTONIO — A woman found shot in her northwest side apartment Monday posted a cry for help on social media days before she was murdered.
Family friends of 51-year-old Shelia-Jo Portillo Hanks said she had moved from Alaska to Texas a few years ago to be with the man who is now accused of killing her.
44-year-old Carlos Portillo is facing murder charges after he was discovered at the crime scene, covered in her blood. He told police his wife had been shot at the Oak Creek apartments off Vance Jackson.
“I obviously didn’t want that to happen, but we knew due to the relationship it was a possibility,” Amanda Hollins, a family friend said.
Hollins and Debra Littlefield said they considered Shelia family. Just last week, Littlefield had commented on one of Shelia’s Facebook posts, where she was asking for a friend. It was one of three posts that signaled she was struggling.
“We offered help, we wanted to be able to help,” Hollins said.
They said she started talking with Carlos while he was in a Texas Prison, serving time for drug charges.
“The way they met was crazy, you know? He was a criminal,” Littlefield said.
According to court records, he was released from prison in 2022. Shortly after, they said Shelia moved to San Antonio to be with him but claim the relationship was volatile.
“I offered to drive from New Hampshire to Texas to get her, to get her away from that relationship,” Littlefield said.
Both women said they wished they could have saved their friend.
“I hope that justice gets him,” Littlefield said. “I hope he never gets out.”
They said they have been victims of domestic violence themselves and understand how hard it is to leave a dangerous situation.
“It took me almost over 10 years, almost 15 years to be able to get out of it and to realize, I wasn’t the problem,” Littlefield said.
Carlos Portillo remains in the Bexar County Jail with bonds totaling $275,000.
Anyone who needs help escaping domestic violence should call the Family Violence Prevention Services 24/7 hotline at 210-733-8810 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.