In Loving Memory of Valeen Joy Tellez San Antonio, Texas — A Family Seeking Answers, Healing, and Justice
The city of San Antonio is grieving alongside the heartbroken family of 42-year-old Valeen Joy Tellez, whose life was tragically taken in what police describe as a violent and deeply disturbing incident inside a downtown hotel. Valeen’s loved ones are now left to confront unimaginable pain, unanswered questions, and the heavy burden of mourning a loss that came far too soon—and far too suddenly.
On Monday, November 3, just before 2 p.m., officers responding to a call at the Best Western off South Laredo Street discovered Valeen inside a hotel room, lying in a pool of blood with a fatal stab wound to her neck. According to reports and arrest documents, 50-year-old Jose Garcia Meza was still inside the room at the time. He had a self-inflicted injury and was later transported to a hospital, where he ultimately recovered enough to be charged with murder.
The tragedy has shaken the Tellez family to its core—not just because of the horrifying nature of Valeen’s death, but because Meza was someone they once trusted. Someone who had sat in their home, attended their gatherings, shared meals, laughter, and conversations. The shock of betrayal only deepens the wound.
Valeen’s sister, Evelyn Cadena, spoke through tears as she described the pain of losing her sister, emphasizing that this was not something that should be minimized, dismissed, or categorized simply as a “murder-suicide situation.” For this family, the narrative matters—because Valeen mattered. She was not just a victim of circumstance. She was a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a woman with dreams and talent and a life worth honoring.
The heartbreak is compounded by cruel timing—Valeen’s death came just one day before the family laid their father to rest. To lose two pillars of the family in such close succession has left loved ones grappling with grief that feels layered and unbearable. It is a pain that cannot be fully spoken, only held in shared sorrow and remembrance.
Who Valeen Was
Valeen was more than the tragedy that ended her life.
She was vibrant, creative, and full of laughter.
She was compassionate and deeply loving.
She had a gift for art and a heart that welcomed others without hesitation.
Her family remembers her as someone who could walk into any room and brighten it—someone who made others feel seen, understood, and cared for. Her spirit was gentle, yet strong. Fun-loving, yet thoughtful. She loved her family fiercely and loyally. She was the kind of person who gave second chances, who believed in good even when life was hard.
Her absence is not just noticed—it is felt in every silence, every memory, every thought of what could and should have been.
A Family Seeking Justice and Truth
As the legal process continues, Valeen’s family wants the community to understand that this was not simply a tragedy fueled by circumstance, but a violent act that took Valeen’s life against her will. They want her story to be told with truth, dignity, and depth—not oversimplified, not overlooked, and not forgotten.
They are calling for justice—not out of anger alone—but out of love.
Love for Valeen.
Love for the truth.
Love for every life she touched.
To the Tellez Family
May you find moments of peace in the memories that will forever hold her close.
May you feel the support of a community that grieves with you and stands beside you.
May healing come—gently, slowly, in time—even in the midst of this unimaginable pain.
Valeen’s light did not end in that room.
It lives in every story told, every tear shed, every life she touched, and in every act of love done in her memory.
Rest in Peace, Valeen Joy Tellez Your life had meaning. Your story matters. You are deeply loved and will never be forgotten. 🕊️💐
