Update in Murder Investigation of Fayetteville Woman

It’s been nine months since investigators found the body of Viviana Ortiz Zuniga outside of Fayetteville. Her estranged husband has been charged with her murder and he remains in custody while the case makes its way through the court.

The 39-year-old woman went missing on April 2 of last year. She worked at Orsak’s Cafe in Fayetteville at the time. Her vehicle was later recovered in Austin County. Law enforcement discovered her remains concealed in the woods along Coufal Rd. on April 16.

Her estranged husband, 45-year-old Carlos Vera-Flores of Fayetteville, had been criminally charged for stalking her prior to her disappearance. He was indicted for stalking on Jan. 18, 2024. Vera- Flores was free on bond at the time of her death. He was also facing an assault-family violence charge. According to court filings, he was supposed to appear in court on April 1 of last year – the day before his wife disappeared – but he did not show up for court. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

Fayette County Attorney James Herbrich filed a motion to revoke Vera-Flores’ bond on April 4 of last year, two days after Viviana disappeared. The court approved the order and revoked the husband’s bond that same day. Vera-Flores was arrested the following day, April 5. He has been in custody ever since.

A Fayette County Grand Jury indicted Vera-Flores on three additional felony charges on May 22: capital murder by terroristic threat, assault on a public servant and abuse of corpse without legal authority.

One of the law enforcement officers who helped recover the body reportedly suffered an injury due to the means by which the body was concealed. That resulted in the charge of assault on a public servant.

No trial date has been set. Vera-Flores has a non-issue appearance in district court scheduled for this Wednesday, Jan. 21. These appearances typically involve administrative or procedural matters related to the case.

Vera-Flores has not yet entered a formal plea on the charges stemming from his wife’s death. His bond is set at $1 million. He also has an immigration detainer for being an illegal immigrant from Mexico, according to court filings.