Born on February 10, 1976, in Texas, Lopez had a criminal career that spanned nearly three decades, according to Wikipedia.
He had early run-ins with the law which led to criminal charges for aggravated assault, drug possession, and hit-and-run incidents.
By 2005, he had escalated to more serious crimes, including kidnapping and murder.
However, Lopez’s notoriety reached new heights in 2022 when he orchestrated a daring prison escape, leading to a deadly manhunt that gripped the nation.
Let's get into it.
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| Gonzalo Artemio Lopez |
A Brutal Kidnapping and Murder
On March 23, 2005, Gonzalo Artemio Lopez, along with an accomplice known only as “Rick,” abducted 37-year-old Jose Guadalupe Ramirez in Weslaco, Texas.
The two men, armed with guns, forcibly entered Ramirez’s home, kidnapped him, and threatened his wife at gunpoint.
According to police reports, Lopez was part of the La Mana drug cartel at the time, a criminal organization based in Tamaulipas, Mexico.
The cartel’s leader, Juan Lerma, had reportedly ordered the kidnapping because Ramirez owed $40,000 for drugs that had been given to him.
The cartel had supplied Ramirez with marijuana and cocaine, but he had failed to repay the cartel.
After the abduction, the cartel demanded a ransom from Ramirez’s family, who complied by handing over three trucks, drugs, and money.
The trucks were delivered to the cartel, while Lopez and Rick kept the cash and drugs for themselves.
Despite the ransom being paid, Lerma reportedly ordered them to kill Ramirez in order to send a message.
That same night, Lopez carried out the gruesome murder.
After the brutal murder, Lopez and Rick then buried Ramirez’s body in a wooded area, in an attempt to conceal their crime.
In April 2005, a confidential informant tipped off authorities about Lopez’s involvement in Ramirez’s murder.
Also, Ramirez’s wife positively identified Lopez in a police lineup as one of the men who had broken into her home and kidnapped her husband.
Lopez was arrested and, during questioning, led authorities to the location where he had buried Ramirez’s body.
However, he refused to reveal the identity of his accomplice, “Rick,” who was never apprehended.
Lopez’s cooperation in locating the body provided crucial evidence for the prosecution, but it did little to mitigate the severity of his crimes.
On February 16, 2006, a jury found Lopez guilty on both counts of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.
He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jose Guadalupe Ramirez.
While he was already serving his life sentence, authorities uncovered his involvement in a separate incident from 2004.
During a high-speed chase with law enforcement, Lopez and another suspect had fired shots at police officers.
Although Lopez evaded capture at the time, evidence later tied him to the crime.
On December 13, 2007, he was convicted of attempted capital murder of a police officer and received a second life sentence.
These convictions marked the beginning of Lopez’s lengthy incarceration, but they were far from the end of his story.
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| The bus used during an escape |
The Prison Break
On May 12, 2022, Gonzalo Artemio Lopez executed a daring and violent prison break.
Tragically, his actions set off a series of events that led to one of the worst crime sprees in Texas.
On that day, Lopez was being transported in a bus, along with 15 other inmates, to a medical appointment.
Two veteran corrections officers were onboard to oversee the transport.
During the journey, Lopez managed to break free and attack the corrections officer driving the bus, stabbing him multiple times.
The bus came to a stop, and a struggle ensued between Lopez and the officers.
Despite their efforts, Lopez overpowered them and ran away with the bus.
Lopez then drove the bus for approximately a mile before the tires were shot out by pursuing officers.
He crashed the bus near Centerville, Texas, and fled on foot into the surrounding woods.
Despite an extensive manhunt involving local, state, and federal law enforcement, Lopez evaded capture for three weeks.
During this time, he was added to Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, and a $50,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest.
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The Brutal Second Murder Spree
The manhunt took a devastating turn on June 2, 2022, when Lopez broke into a ranch in Centerville owned by the Collins family.
The property was located within the search perimeter established by law enforcement.
Lopez murdered 66-year-old Mark Collins and four of his grandchildren: 18-year-old Waylon Collins, 16-year-old Carson Collins, 11-year-old Hudson Collins, and their 11-year-old cousin, Bryson Collins.
According to crime scene investigators, the victims died from a combination of gunshot and stab wounds.
The family had only arrived at the ranch home that day and planned to spend that weekend there before they were killed.
After the murders, Lopez stole several firearms from the ranch, including an AR-15-style rifle, as well as a white 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
He fled the scene, leaving behind the bodies of his victims.
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The Collins family |
The bodies were discovered later that day when a concerned relative, unable to reach the family, contacted the local police department.
Officers arrived at the ranch around 6 p.m. and found the five victims.
Lopez was immediately identified as the prime suspect, and a statewide alert was issued for the stolen truck.
Later that evening, a deputy sheriff from Atascosa County spotted the stolen vehicle and confirmed the license plate matched the one reported.
Spike strips were deployed, puncturing the truck’s tires, but Lopez continued to evade capture, driving through a field before re-entering the highway.
As officers closed in, Lopez opened fire on them using the stolen AR-15, shooting through the truck’s window.
The local police department and other law enforcement agencies returned fire, leading to a high-speed chase and a deadly confrontation.
Lopez lost control of the truck, crashed into a utility pole, and then into a fence.
He exited the vehicle and began shooting at officers, who returned fire, ultimately killing him.
The aftermath of Lopez’s crime spree left a community devastated, as reported by CNN.
The Collins family, described as close-knit and deeply faithful, was mourned by friends, neighbors, and the Tomball Independent School District, where the grandchildren were students.
In response to the escape and subsequent murders, the TDCJ announced a suspension of inmate transports and a comprehensive review of its transportation procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This episode marked the end of Gonzalo Artemio Lopez’s violent rampage, but it also highlighted the dangers posed by escaped inmates and the importance of robust security measures in similar situations.
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