The family of an 18-year-old whose body was found at Woodlawn Lake during record rainfall last month is calling on police to open a homicide investigation. His relatives believe he was killed.
First responders recovered the body of George Steven Macias III, known as “Baby George,” from the lake. The cause and manner of death for his case have not been determined, the Bexar County Medical Examiner said on Monday.
Around 8 a.m. on May 29, a passerby called police after spotting what appeared to be a body partially submerged in a drainage ditch near Wilson and Woodlawn streets.
A San Antonio Fire Department rescue team launched a boat and recovered the remains.
The teen’s body showed signs of trauma, possibly from being carried by floodwaters after recent storms, first responders said.
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The investigation
Nancy Trejo, Macias’ grandmother, said he left her home on May 28 with friends. When he didn’t return the next day, family members began searching for him. It wasn’t normal for him to leave home for so long, Trejo told the San Antonio Express-News.
San Antonio Police Department officials told the Express-News the investigation into Macias’ death is active. His case is classified as an “apparent sudden death.”
“At the time of the incident, no foul play/injuries were observed or found. However, the Bexar County Medical Examiner will conduct the death investigation to determine the cause of death,” an SAPD spokesperson said.
Macias’ family members said they obtained video footage captured on the night of May 28 and the following morning that led them to believe he was the victim of foul play. In one video that the Express-News was able to view, Macias appeared to be under the influence of drugs and or alcohol. They said they shared the videos with the police.
His mother, Betsabeth Vallecillo, said she believes her son was drugged and killed. She described another video that she said proves he did not drown, but she did not share that video with the Express-News.
Macias and other family members said they have their doubts about whether police are doing enough to investigate the case and keep the family informed.
“We all want the truth for my baby boy. He didn’t have to go out like that. It’s not what he deserved,” Vallecillo said on Saturday through tears.
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She and other family members held a plate sale on Saturday to raise funds for a funeral, which they say will cost more than $10,000. So far, a
GoFundMe
has raised more than $3,000 in donations.
‘This is heartbreaking’
As Macias’ family waits for answers about the investigation and works to raise funds to bury their son, they’re trying to come to terms with life without him.
“This is heartbreaking. He was a good kid,” Vallecillo said. “He was just being a teenager, trying to figure out the next steps in life.”
Macias was a natural protector who loved spending time with his family, especially his young nieces and nephews, his family says. He could often be found playing video games and watching anime shows and movies.
He was attending Triumph High School to catch up on credits and planned to reenroll at Lanier High School so he could graduate with the class of 2026, his mother said.
“He had a loving heart, and he was very kind and respectful,” Trejo said. “That’s what we don’t get. What did he do to deserve to die?”
The
funeral service
for Macias will be held on June 17 at Meadowlawn Memorial Park.
The discovery of Macias’ remains came after days of severe weather and record rainfall in the San Antonio area. SAFD said it had completed more than 25 water rescues in a short time during the rainfall.
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Woodlawn Lake deaths
Woodlawn Lake has been the site of multiple fatalities in recent years, fire officials said May 29.
In March, a jogger discovered the body of
61-year-old Delilah Jimenez
at Woodlawn Lake. The Medical Examiner’s Office said the woman drowned and her death was ruled an accident.
A 25-year-old man
drowned in the lake
in April. Officers responded to a report of “lewd conduct” on April 14 and found the man sitting on the ledge of a large drainage ditch next to the lake.
When they called to the man, he jumped into the water, police said. Officers attempted to reach the man, but after a few minutes, he submerged himself in the water and did not resurface.
Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson contributed to this report.
