Texas man is arrested for the murder of 20-year-old Madeline Pantoja who disappeared on a night out nine days previously

Madelina Molina Pantoja, 20, vanished from her apt in Midland, Texas on May 10

Her phone, purse and dog were still in her apartment when her family went to her home on May 11

Mario Juan Chacon, 24, was arrested for the murder of Madeline Pantoja on Saturday afternoon

The arrest came hours after police found Pantoja’s body near Midland, Texas

Chacon, Jr. is being held without bond as of Saturday night at the Midland County Jail,

Mario Juan Chacon Jr, 24, [photo] was arrested on Saturday in Midland, Texas, on felony first-degree murder of 20-year-old Madeline Pantoja, who was last seen on May 10. Her body was found on Saturday morning – nine days later

A man has been arrested for the murder of a woman in western Texas more than a week after she disappeared after a night out.
The arrest of Mario Juan Chacon, 24, on Saturday afternoon came just hours after the body of Madelina Molina Pantoja, 20, was found on Saturday morning, police said.
Mario Juan Chacon, Jr. was arrested on and is being charged with felony first-degree murder. As of Saturday night he is being held without bond at the Midland County Jail, according to county jail records. 
Pantoja was last seen on May 10, at her home at around 11pm, but neighbors say they heard her arguing with her ex-boyfriend hours later at 1.30am.
Pantoja’s phone, purse and dog were still in her apartment when she was reported missing on May 11. 

Madeline Pantoja [photo], was reported missing on May 11, triggering a frantic nine-day search. She was last seen on May 10 at her home. She was dropped off there at 11pm, but neighbors say they heard her arguing with her ex-boyfriend at 1.30am.

On May 20 her body was found southeast of Midland, approximately 3 miles east of County Road 190 and County Road 1160, police said.
‘At approximately 3.30pm today, Midland Police Department detectives arrested Mario Juan Chacon,’ MPD reported on Saturday.
The investigation into Pantoja’s death is ongoing and an autopsy will be performed in Dallas County, Midland Police said.
News of Pantoja’s death shocked the community, which had been trying to assist with the search since her disappearance.
A Facebook page that had been posting ‘search dates and info’ had nearly 30,000 likes as of Sunday morning.   
The number of citizens looking to involve themselves in the investigation caused the police to warn that criminal action would be taken against anybody interfering.
Nonetheless, on Friday before Pantoja was found dead, Midland Mayor Lori Blong announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts.

Neighbors heard Madelina Molina Pantoja [photo], was said to have been arguing with her ex-boyfriend at 1.30am on May 11, the night she disappeared 

‘I cannot imagine the stress and the concern and worry of Madeline’s family and friends as they’ve gone through this ordeal,’ she said at the time.
She said there was no reason to believe there was a public threat to Midland. 
Chief of police in Midland Seth Herman said during Friday’s conference that since the initial report, his department worked 24 hours a day to find Pantoja.
He said officers searched about 60 square miles with the aid of drones and manned aircraft. He said also had over a dozen search warrants and had interviewed 25 people.