Nursing School Graduate, 34, Kidnapped from Parking Lot and Found Dead Beside Estranged Husband After 25-Mile Police Chase

Bianca Garza had celebrated a major milestone just two weeks earlier. Now, her two children are facing life without either parent after a devastating incident in North Texas.

A 34-year-old Texas mother who had recently graduated from nursing school was kidnapped from an apartment parking lot and later found dead inside a vehicle alongside her estranged husband, following a high-speed police pursuit that stretched approximately 25 miles. The heartbreaking incident unfolded on the morning of October 29, 2026, in Burleson, Texas, leaving two school-age children without either of their parents.

According to the Burleson Police Department, officers received reports of an armed man in the 700 block of West Hidden Creek Parkway at approximately 7:45 a.m. Bianca Garza had just dropped off her 9-year-old child at school and returned to the apartment complex when witnesses reportedly saw her estranged husband, Axel Ramirez, force her into a vehicle. Police Chief Billy Cordell said the couple had separated and that Ramirez had moved out of their residence. The two had reportedly planned to have a civil conversation that morning, and Bianca’s boyfriend was also involved in the circumstances surrounding the meeting.

After taking Bianca, Ramirez allegedly refused to stop when officers attempted to pull over his vehicle, triggering a dangerous pursuit through North Texas. Police said the chase lasted approximately 34 minutes and covered around 25 miles, with the vehicle reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph. Officers deployed spike strips along U.S. Highway 377, successfully damaging both passenger-side tires. Despite the damage, the driver continued moving before the pursuit eventually ended near Bourland Field Airport in Cresson. During the chase, Bianca managed to call 911, while emergency calls were also received from the scene of the reported kidnapping.

When officers reached the vehicle, they discovered both Bianca and Ramirez dead inside, each with apparent gunshot wounds. Authorities said no responding law enforcement officers fired their weapons. Preliminary findings indicated that the incident was an apparent murder-suicide, although investigators continued examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Police had not publicly established a motive.

Beyond the circumstances of her death, Bianca’s story has drawn attention because of the future she had worked so hard to build. She had graduated from nursing school just two weeks earlier, a milestone her loved ones celebrated with pride. Her boyfriend, Ezekiel Cain, told CBS Texas that she had worked toward becoming a nurse so she could provide a better future for her family. He described her as a loving mother and said she had been looking forward to the next chapter of her life. He also alleged that Bianca had left the relationship after years of emotional and physical abuse. Those allegations have been attributed to Cain; police said they were not aware of any previously reported domestic violence incidents involving the couple, while acknowledging that abuse can go unreported.

Bianca leaves behind two daughters, ages 9 and 14. Her boyfriend remembered her as a caring and loving person, and asked others to cherish their children and show compassion to families facing difficult circumstances. The two children are now being cared for by relatives. For those who celebrated Bianca’s graduation only days earlier, the loss is especially painful: a young mother who had overcome challenges to pursue a career in nursing will never get the chance to begin the future she had worked toward.

The investigation is being conducted by the Burleson Police Department in coordination with the Texas Rangers. Authorities have not announced a confirmed motive, and the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.

Source: PEOPLE