A WOMAN whose brother was murdered by his girlfriend’s enraged step-father only found out about his death after she saw a Facebook post.
Christina Rae, 25, last saw her brother, Josh Rivera, 28, on October 24, 2023, when he left their parents’ house to run some errands.
He promised her he’d return shortly, yet by the following morning, Rivera hadn’t come back, prompting his older brother, Henry, 32, to reach out on Facebook, inquiring if anyone had any news of him.
Rae was scrolling on the site when she spotted a police report mentioning a death – and saw Rivera’s black Ford Escape in the photo.
Within 30 minutes, she saw a post from one of Rivera’s friends that said “RIP Josh.”
At a trial in July 2025, Josh’s family learned that he was shot several times by Joshua Fernandovazquez Trezaratti, 46, at a residence on Mickelson Drive, Southeast Austin, on October 24, 2023.
The affidavit states that on the day Josh was killed, Trezaratti allegedly directed his wife to convince Rivera that she was alone at the house when he visited.
The plot began after Rivera, who was dating Trezaratti’s step-daughter, allegedly made unwelcome sexual advances toward his wife.
Police said Trezaratti was waiting in a nearby room with a shotgun and intervened when Rivera attempted to go outside.
After they physically fought, Trezaratti shot Rivera multiple times.
Christina, who works as a social media marketer in Austin, Texas, stated, “When I received the call that Josh hadn’t come home, I advised everyone to stay calm.”
“I thought he would have just spent the night at someone’s.
“My oldest brother posted on Facebook asking if anyone had seen Josh.
“I went on Facebook and saw that the police put a report online – that is when I saw Josh’s car in the photo.
“At that moment, nobody was aware that Josh had passed away until his best friend posted ‘RIP Josh’ on Facebook. It was then my mom phoned me, screaming in distress.”
LAST SIGHTING
Rae saw her brother, who was also a father, for the final time on October 24, 2023, at her mom’s house.
“When I arrived at my parent’s house, I encountered Josh and talked with him for roughly 30 minutes. He mentioned he had some errands to do but assured me he would be back,” she recalled.
“Little did I know that would be the last time I saw him alive.
“We were having so many people message us on Facebook asking if it was true that Josh was dead.
“Minutes later, my mom called me. She was screaming her head off that Josh was murdered, she kept screaming down the phone.
“I remember not knowing what to say, but rushing to the school to make sure that our younger sister was OK.”
Austin Police Department officers responded to an emergency 911 call around 5pm on October 24, 2023, and found Rivera on the floor with gunshot wounds.
Despite efforts from medics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rivera’s ex-partner, Arleen Juarez, 34, a property manager, from Kyle, Texas, said, “I do believe his murder was pre-planned, and I do believe that he was tricked.
“It makes me feel sad. Whatever they thought about Josh, they had no reason to take his life.
“They took a father from his children, they took a son, a brother, a man who was very loved by his family.”
TRIAL LAUNCHED
Last month, Trezaratti was found guilty of murder and given an 18-year sentence to be served at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Rae had the opportunity to speak directly to Trezaratti at the trial and said that he would smirk at the family.
She said: “I got to take the stand, so did my dad, Josh’s two kids, and my sister.
“I was very angry, I was filled with emotions. It felt like an out-of-body experience. You are facing the person who not only ruined your brother’s life but also ruined everyone’s around him.
“I remember seeing him face-to-face. Throughout court, he was smirking at us.
“When he pleaded not guilty, he turned to us and smiled.”
Rae said that 18 years is not long enough for a life and feels like the sentencing was a “slap in the face.”
She said Rivera was like a teddy bear; that he was always there for people and was very in touch with his emotions.
“Trezaratti really thought he was going to win, he cried when he was sentenced,” she added.
“I personally feel like 18 years is not enough for a life.
“My brother only got 28 years on this world, we will spend every day missing him.
“It felt like a slap in the face to all of us.”
