Police in East Texas are investigating a tragic murder-suicide case that occurred over the weekend on U.S. Highway 59, in which a mother allegedly fatally shot her eight-year-old son before taking her own life. The incident has shocked the communities of Livingston and Lufkin, both of which have a strong Hispanic presence.
According to the Livingston Police Department, the bodies of Adelia Garcia Torres, 27, and her son, Cesar Ulyses Enriquez, were found Saturday night inside a vehicle parked on the side of the road on the 800 block of U.S. Highway 59 South. Both had single gunshot wounds, apparently self-inflicted.
A prior report of imminent danger
The Livingston community is grappling with profound grief following the tragic and untimely deaths of Adelia Garcia Torres, 27, and her 8-year-old son, Cesar Ulyses Enriquez
MORE DETAILS… https://t. co/BT6aZNIyx8 pic.twitter.com/6heaKLjF58– George Green (@gree43344) November 4, 2025
The tragedy was triggered after the Lufkin Police Department, the hometown of Adelia Garcia Torres and the minor, alerted Livingston authorities about a woman who had expressed suicidal intentions.
Lufkin officers provided their colleagues with descriptions of two vehicles associated with the case, which enabled a search operation to be quickly deployed throughout the area.
A few hours later, a patrol car located the car in question.
Upon arrival at the scene, the officers confirmed that both the mother and child were lifeless.
Despite the efforts of the paramedics, it was not possible to resuscitate them.
Authorities ruled out the involvement of other individuals and assured that there is no active threat to the community.
Research and inter-institutional support
The case remains under investigation by Livingston Police, with support from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Lufkin Police and the Texas Rangers.
In an official statement, the local police expressed their condolences to the family of the victims and thanked the cooperation of the agencies involved.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victims as they try to cope with this painful incident. We appreciate the joint work with Lufkin PD, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers,” the corporation said in a statement released Sunday.
A tragedy that reopens the mental health debate
This case again brings to the table the crisis of mental health and access to suicide prevention services in Texas, especially in rural areas where resources are limited.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of homicide-suicide – in which a parent ends the lives of his or her children before committing suicide – have increased in recent years, and specialists associate them with severe episodes of depression, domestic violence or economic despair.
In Hispanic communities, experts warn that mental health stigma remains a barrier to seeking timely help.
Available helplines
Authorities reminded the public that if there are any signs of emotional crisis or suicidal thoughts, you can immediately call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the United States, available in Spanish 24 hours a day.
There are also local lines and community organizations in Texas that offer free and confidential assistance.
If you or someone you know is going through a crisis, you can call 988 (option 2 for Spanish) or send a text message with the word AYUDA to 988.
Este trágico suceso deja una comunidad en duelo y una nueva llamada de atención sobre la urgencia de atender la salud mental con empatía, recursos adecuados y acompañamiento
QuéOnnda.com
Archived as: Adelia García Torres
