Howard County, Texas: Deceased Individual Found on Side of the Road

HOWARD COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – In a recent development, the Howard County Crime Stoppers have reported a distressing incident that took place on December 15th. Deputies from the Howard County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in the 3800 block of N. Highway 87, where they discovered the lifeless body of a person on the roadside.

The deceased individual has been identified as 32-year-old Christopher Semmelmann. Following the discovery, the HCSO Investigations Division delved into the case and determined that Semmelmann had been the victim of a recent murder. The location of the crime scene was traced to the 100 block of Jonesboro Road.

As the investigation unfolded, the deputies decided to apply for an arrest warrant for a person of interest named Ray Alvarado, who is 25 years old. The warrant was granted on December 19th, linking Alvarado to Semmelmann’s untimely demise.

Another incident unfolded at approximately 6pm on December 19th when the Big Spring Police Department received reports of shots fired at the Sonoco convenience store located at 400 S. Gregg. The officers swiftly arrived at the scene and found 34-year-old Rosendo Deanda in a silver Chrysler van, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Deanda was immediately transported to Scenic Mountain Medical Center by the Big Spring Fire and Emergency Medical Services for immediate medical attention. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later flown to UMC Lubbock.

The Criminal Investigations Division of the Big Spring PD took charge of the case and identified Ray Alvarado as the primary suspect in this shooting as well.

At approximately 7:15pm, officers from the Big Spring Police Department received a report of a gray Chevrolet pickup truck stolen from the 200 block of W. 2nd Street. According to the owner, who was working in the area, he witnessed a Hispanic male entering the truck and driving away. Preliminary investigations also revealed Alvarado’s involvement in this offense.

Given the circumstances, HCSO Department Investigators, additional Big Spring PD Detectives, and the Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers were notified to search the 400 block of NE 10th Street and the 400 block of NE 11th Street, where concerned citizens last spotted the stolen vehicle. Simultaneously, the search for Alvarado expanded to multiple locations within the city and county.

At around 9:30pm, Big Spring PD received an urgent call from the 1400 block of Settles, reporting another shooting incident and a gunshot victim. The victim, identified as 55-year-old David Holsenbeck, was promptly rushed to Scenic Mountain Medical Center for treatment.

A Howard County Investigator, while establishing a perimeter in the area, spotted the stolen gray Chevrolet pickup truck traveling northbound in the 1600 block of Jennings. The investigator pursued the stolen vehicle, which evaded capture by turning onto 16th Street and then promptly southbound onto State Street. The truck finally came to a stop in the 1700 block of State St., where the sole occupant exited and fled in a southwestern direction.

At approximately 10:28pm, law enforcement successfully apprehended Ray Alvarado, who was discovered hiding in the backyard of a residence in the 2300 block of S. Runnels. Alvarado was promptly transported to the Howard County Jail, where he was booked for the murder of Christopher Semmelmann and an outstanding Burglary of a Habitation warrant.

Tragically, the medical staff at SMMC informed Big Spring PD Detectives that David Holsenbeck had succumbed to his injuries and passed away just before midnight. The local Justice of the Peace was notified and an autopsy has been scheduled for Friday, December 22nd. The next of kin for Holsenbeck and Deanda have already been informed of their respective fates.

As of 11am on Wednesday, December 20th, Rosendo Deanda remains in critical condition at UMC Lubbock.

It is important to note that all of these cases remain under active investigation, and no further information is currently available. Rest assured, we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes accessible.

Ray Alvarado is currently considered the primary suspect in all of these cases. If you possess any information about these incidents, we urge you to contact Crime Stoppers at (432)263-TIPS or through the P3 TIPS mobile app. By providing the first tip that leads to an arrest, you will be eligible for a cash reward. Remember, Crime Stoppers guarantees anonymity, and caller ID is never used.