Harlingen woman dies in attempted burglary

HARLINGEN — An elderly woman died during an attempted burglary on Harlingen’s west side Saturday morning, police said.

Police said they are treating the death as a homicide. No arrests had been made as of press time, but a “person of interest” was being held for questioning.

Flavia Araiza, who police said was about 80 years old, was discovered dead shortly after 9 a.m. at her home in the 400 block of Buchanan Avenue.

Harlingen police said there were no visible signs of trauma to Araiza’s body. However, they are treating her death as a homicide.

Spokeswoman Lt. Miryam Anderson said a 911 call was placed at around 9 a.m. Saturday in reference to a “burglary in progress.”

Details were not immediately available as crime scene investigators worked to gather evidence Saturday.

Anderson said that while en route, officers received information that a woman at the residence had died.

She said that after arriving at the scene, officers obtained a description of a man wearing blue jean shorts from a woman and a man who were in Araiza’s home during the attempted burglary.

Police officers were able to catch up with the man matching the description a short time later.

Anderson described him as a man between 20 and 30 years old and said he is a “person of interest.”

During the investigation, family and neighbors of Araiza stood across the street from her home, some crying and consoling each other. Others were sitting on the curb of Buchanan Avenue with their hands on their head in disbelief after learning of Araiza’s death.

Araiza’s neighbors described her as a spry and caring woman who was a big Dallas Cowboy fan, enjoyed having yard sales and painting with water colors.

Neighbors said there have been a streak of burglaries in the neighborhood in recent months.

However, Anderson said the police department would have to check and verify those reports.