HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Houston woman’s daughter is speaking out after police arrested a suspect accused of killing her mother earlier this week.
Authorities say 48-year-old Eric Goosby was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after several days on the run. Investigators allege he shot and killed Monica Olivarez at her apartment in northeast Houston.
For Monique Oliverez, the victim’s daughter, the arrest brought a mix of emotions.
“It’s been exhausting,” she said. “When you told me, it was the biggest weight off my shoulders. It’s like, ‘OK, I can put my mom to rest now.'”
Monique said she learned of her mother’s death through social media after a friend contacted her.
“I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?'” she recalled. “That’s how I found out.”
Police say Monica Olivarez’s body was discovered Monday afternoon at the Sherwick Apartments on Laura Koppe Drive. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots around 9 p.m. the night before. Surveillance video later showed Goosby leaving the apartment, according to investigators.
Goosby was arrested around 2 p.m. Thursday on Hussion Street east of downtown.
Court records show prosecutors are seeking a $1.5 million bond, citing a lengthy and violent criminal history and concerns he could flee if released.
According to court documents, Goosby has prior convictions dating back decades, including:
- A 2003 conviction for attacking a woman with a candlestick holder
- A 2009 conviction for aggravated assault
- A 2013 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, for which he received a 25-year sentence
State records also list him as a registered sex offender since 2004 with a moderate risk level. He was on parole in 2013 at the time of his arrest.
Monique said her mother had been in an abusive relationship with Goosby and had become increasingly isolated.
“We didn’t like who she was with, so we stopped putting ourselves there,” she said. “We tried getting her help.”
Now, she says she’s grappling with guilt over that distance – and hopes others learn from her experience.
“Even if you’re tired, you can’t give up checking on your loved ones,” she said. “Sometimes they can’t tell you if they need help.”
Despite her grief, Monique says the arrest allows her family to focus on honoring her mother’s life.
“I would say, I hate you – you took my son’s grandma,” she said, addressing the suspect. “But you made us closer as a family, and you let my mom see she’s not alone.”
Goosby is currently being held in the Harris County Jail and faces a murder charge, along with a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.