Angela Lozano’s 18-year-old son returned home to their North Richland Hills apartment early Saturday to find a horrific scene.
His mother lay dead from a head wound. His older brother was nowhere to be found.Immediately, he called 911.Within hours after that post-midnight call, Lozano’s friends and family members received more shocking news. Her 23-year-old son, Justin Cody Collins, was in custody and accused of killing her.Police said he had fled the apartment, where he lived with his mother and his brother, whose name was not released. Collins was arrested hours later at his father’s home in Tarrant County, North Richland Hills police said. But police declined to provide further details or any information on a motive, saying the investigation was continuing.The only clue to Lozano’s death is in the sterile language of the medical examiner’s report: She was killed by “blunt force trauma” to the head.“We’re not releasing what weapon was used or if he used his hands,” Sgt. Ed Wright said Sunday. “I can’t say if they had been arguing that night or not. We also aren’t commenting on whether he was on any type of drugs or intoxicated.”Collins’ bail was set at $1 million Sunday. He remained in the North Richland Hills Jail.He is expected to be charged with murder, Wright said. “No other arrests are expected,” he said.Police arrived to discover Lozano, 45, shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday in her apartment in the 6700 block of Buenos Aires Drive. Wright would not say where her body was found.Police also would not say whether they had been to the house previously for any reason.Collins was charged in 2009 with criminal trespass and was sentenced to eight months’ probation and a $486 fine, according to Tarrant County court records.Lozano was a utility customer service employee for the city of North Richland Hills, where she had worked since 2004, a city spokeswoman said.Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763Twitter: @mingoramirezjrHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
