4th Arrest Made in Connection to the Death of 16 Year Old Vanderbilt Teen

On January 5, 2022, around 7:30 pm, a 4th person was arrested in connection to the death of 16-year-old Vanderbilt teen Benjamin "Tank" Loera.

Arrest and Charges Made

Yolanda Rodriguez Simek was the 4th person arrested in connection to the disappearance and death of Benjamin "Tank" Loera. Simek is charged with Aggravated Kidnapping (1st-degree felony) and Aggravated Assault (2nd-degree felony). She is being held at a combined 200,000 bond.

Three other suspects are also in custody. Casey Watne Jenschke, 23, Kyler Ray Recrot,19 both from Lolita were charged back on November 23, 2021, with Aggravated Kidnapping and Aggravated Assualt. According to the Jackson County Sheriff Office, there is another female connected to the case who is booked into the Victoria County Juvenile Detention Center, however, the name has not been disclosed due to age.

A Quick Case Run-Down

Back in October a missing person report was filed for 16-year-old Benjamin "Tank" Loera from Vanderbilt. Officials worked diligently to find Loera, utilizing every tool they had.

2 Month Long Search Ends

During the investigation, Jackson County Sheriffs Office teamed up with the Seguin Police Department and Guadalupe SHerrifs Office. The search ended December 20, 2021, when a body was found near the Guadalupe River in Seguin, which would later be identified as the 16-year-old Vanderbilt resident, Benjamin "Tank" Loera.

Body Positively Identified

The body was found in a brush area and through dental records was identified as Loera. The family was able to bring closure to his loved one home before Christmas. The investigation and case is still ongoing.