Houston police identified the woman as 33-year-old Yvonne Lopez, while her cause of death remains pending.
HOUSTON, TX — Houston police have identified a woman whose partially burned body was found last month near Sims Bayou as 33-year-old Yvonne Lopez, authorities said.
Lopez was found about 9 a.m. July 29 in the 8100 block of the Gulf Freeway, also known as South Interstate Highway 45. A crew mowing grass in the area discovered her body and notified authorities, according to the Houston Police Department. Her identification was announced Aug. 10 as investigators continued working to determine how she died.
A preliminary investigation by HPD homicide detectives, the Houston Fire Department Arson Bureau and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences determined that Lopez’s body had been partially burned. Police have not released information explaining how or when the burning occurred.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is responsible for determining Lopez’s cause and manner of death. HPD said those findings were still pending when it announced her identity. Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or a motive, and police have not said whether investigators have determined that Lopez was killed.
When the body was initially discovered, investigators did not know the woman’s identity. Police described the deceased as appearing to be a Black woman and noted a star tattoo on her hand as they sought information that could help identify her. Further investigation later established that the woman was Lopez.
HPD homicide investigators Sgt. M. Holbrook and detectives D. Crowder and A. Vinogradov are listed as investigators in the case. The department has continued to classify the matter as a death investigation while awaiting the forensic findings.
Lopez’s sister, Daphne Lopez, described her in an online fundraiser as a mother and a strong-willed woman who remained close to her family despite a difficult upbringing. She also remembered her sister as fun and lively. The fundraiser was established to help with funeral expenses following Lopez’s death.
Police have released few details about Lopez’s movements before her body was discovered. Authorities have not publicly said how long she may have been at the site, whether she died there or somewhere else, or whether investigators have identified anyone who was with her before her death.
The investigation remains ongoing. Houston police have asked anyone with information about the case to contact the HPD Homicide Division or Crime Stoppers as detectives await the final determination of Lopez’s cause and manner of death.
Author note: Last updated August 13, 2026.