A Mother's Ultimate Sacrifice: Texas Mom Murdered Trying To Save Her Child

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Tina Davila died protecting her 4-month-old baby. She will be remembered for her heroic act and beautiful smile.

On April 16th, 2008, 39-year-old Tina Davila headed to a Cricket store in Houston, Texas to pay her cell phone bill, as she did every month.

Tina parked her new Chrysler Aspen at the store's parking lot, and next to her car, 17-year-old Kennedy Escoto parked a Ford Taurus. As soon as Tina got out, police say 23-year-old Timoteo Rios, who was a passenger in the Taurus, approached her, and violently reached for her car keys and some cash she had in her hands.

Tina tried to fight off her attacker, not willing to let go of her keys. Police say that's when her frustrated attacker cowardly pulled out a knife and stabbed Tina on the chest.

Tina followed her attacker to his car, but cops say Escoto and Rios drove away. Tina then went back to the store to ask for help, but she collapsed on the floor.

Soon after, witnesses learned that the main reason why Tina didn't want to give up her keys was not her new car, but the fact that her 5-month-old daughter, Kaylynn, was in the backseat of Tina's SUV.

But what made it all the more heartbreaking is that Tina's final moments were caught on tape.

Cops: Crime Spree Escalates To Murder

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Cops say Timoteo Rios stabbed Tina Davila to death.

Police believe Tina Davila's murder was part of a crime spree that started in the early afternoon of that tragic Wednesday.

At around 2:00 p.m., cops say Timoteo Rios approached a woman as she was unloading groceries from her car to take them to her apartment.

Cops say Rios approached her, pulled out a knife and demanded her keys. Scared for her life, the woman complied and Rios drove off.

A couple of hours later, a surveillance camera from a convenience store, captured the moment when Timoteo Rios and Kennedy Escoto parked in front of the store.

Then cops suspect Timoteo Rios is captured on video going to the beer case, grabbing a twelve pack of beer and taking off as Escoto goes to check on him. Police say both of them are seen getting into the Ford Taurus and driving away.

One More To Go

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Cops arrested 17-year-old Kennedy Escoto two days after Tina Davila's murder. Escoto has a mask around his neck because he was believed to be infected with tuberculosis.

The cell phone and convenience store video helped Harris County detectives identify Escoto and Rios quickly.

Soon after the videos aired on local news, police were able to arrest 17-year-old Kennedy Escoto. Escoto appeared on camera wearing a mask because he tested positive to tuberculosis.

Rios is wanted for capital murder, and police haven't been able to find him.

Alleged Texas Mom's Killer Arrested

Investigators with the Harris County, Texas Sheriff's Department have confirmed to AMW that Timoteo Rios has been taken into custody in a town near Guadalajara, Mexico.

FBI agents and Mexican police found out that Rios was working as a bricklayer at a construction site and that's where they took him down.

The arrest came a year after Rios allegedly stabbed 39-year-old Tina Davila to death outside a cell phone store in Houston, Texas.

Cops say Rios tried to grab Tina's car keys to take her car, but Tina fought her attacker off because her 4-month-old baby was strapped in the back seat.

Cops say that's when a frustrated Rios stabbed Tina, who collapsed inside the cell phone store as she went to ask for help. The whole incident was caught on tape.

An hour and a half before arresting Timoteo Rios, FBI agents and Mexican police also arrested Timoteo Rios's uncle, Esequiel Rios Villareal. Cops say Rios Villareal was wanted on an unrelated murder charge from 2006, committed in the Houston area as well.

Cops say Rios Villareal is accused of shooting his wife, Benedicta Gonzales, to death in front of her seven children on Feb. 16, 2006.

Both Rios and Rios Villareal are awaiting extradition.