MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies arrested 33-year-old Roger Villasana in connection with the violent death of his girlfriend, 34-year-old Yassmin Montoya, earlier this year.
On April 8, deputies responded to a report of an unconscious woman inside a black Dodge Charger on 30th Avenue East in Bradenton. Montoya was found with severe facial injuries and taken to HCA Florida Blake Hospital, where she died three days later from traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, and internal injuries.
Initially, Villasana claimed Montoya had been attacked by an unknown assailant in Sarasota. However, investigators uncovered inconsistencies in his story. Surveillance footage from a Sarasota resort showed Montoya arriving unharmed, only to be forcibly dragged back to their hotel room by Villasana after she tried to flee. Later footage showed her injured and unable to walk without help.
Additional evidence, including cell phone data and license plate readers, disproved Villasana’s claims and showed the couple never visited the location he mentioned.
On September 3, deputies arrested Villasana at the Bradenton residence where Montoya was found. He was charged with second-degree murder and taken into custody without incident.
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the tragic loss and the importance of uncovering the truth behind Montoya’s death.
