Dallas Woman Found Dead in Freezer Hours Before Suspicious Fire

Discovery in Oak Cliff

Officers responded to the vacant home on Georgia Avenue in East Oak Cliff around 2:30 p.m. Sunday and found Mariah Murray's body inside a freezer , launching what would become a complex investigation involving both homicide detectives and fire investigators. Sources tell WFAA that the call came from someone inside the vacant home who discovered the woman's body in the freezer .

Dallas police are investigating a homicide and a suspicious fire after the body of 27-year-old Mariah Murray was found in a freezer at an abandoned Oak Cliff home . Sources tell WFAA that Murray's body was frozen and later had to be thawed at the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office .

Mysterious Fire Follows Discovery

Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a fire at the home just hours after Murray's body was discovered . The timing of the blaze has raised significant questions for investigators, who are working to determine whether the two incidents are connected. Investigators are still working to determine if the fire was connected to the homicide .

Investigators have not said what caused the blaze or whether foul play was involved . The abandoned property, located near the Illinois Avenue DART station , has been a source of concern for neighbors who report ongoing problems with illegal activity at the site.

Community Concerns and Drug Activity

Another neighbor, speaking off-camera, described the abandoned house as a frequent site for drug activity . This revelation has added another layer to the investigation, as police work to understand the circumstances that led to Murray's death. Neighbors, including Cesar Labrador, expressed shock over the discovery .

The incident has renewed neighborhood concerns about long‑standing problems tied to the vacant home . The property's history of illegal activity may provide crucial context for investigators trying to piece together what happened to Murray and who might be responsible.

Family Seeks Justice

Family members described Murray as a "good spirit" who loved to laugh . Her relatives have been vocal about their desire for answers, visiting the scene to raise awareness about the case. "All of these people around here, somebody who knows did it," Murray's cousin said .

Family members acknowledged that while Murray faced challenges, it did not justify her death . "We want justice. We want whoever did it found. Point-blank. Period." The family's plea underscores the urgency they feel in finding Murray's killer.

As the investigation continues, no suspect information or motive has been released . The case highlights broader issues of abandoned properties becoming sites for criminal activity, while a family grieves and seeks answers about their loved one's tragic death. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Detective C. Fehrenbach at 214-671-3671 .