On the night of April 7, 2024, Rodolfo Cateura Nogueras made a chilling 911 call, informing authorities that he had shot and killed his roommate, Ariel Varella Herrera, accusing him of drugging and abusing his daughter. Cateura Nogueras, 40, told the dispatcher that his 20-year-old daughter was living with him and Herrera, and that Herrera had been giving her drugs and mistreating her. In a matter-of-fact tone, he explained, “I’m not calling you to turn him in, I’m calling to tell you I shot him in the head, and I killed him.”
He directed officers to a storage facility in Schuyler, Nebraska, about 70 miles west of Omaha, where he claimed the shooting took place. Despite his call, Cateura Nogueras did not meet with law enforcement that night, and police did not make contact with him immediately. The investigation began when officers arrived at the storage facility, where they found blood on the ground and a .22 caliber shell casing outside of storage unit #23. Inside, another shell casing was found, along with signs of a violent struggle. The body of Ariel Varella Herrera was discovered underneath black plastic tarps in the back of the unit.
Further investigation revealed security footage from a neighboring business showing multiple people arriving in Herrera’s Dodge Caravan at the storage facility. The footage showed them going in and out of storage unit #23 throughout the day, with some individuals appearing to inspect the surroundings before re-entering the unit. At 7:52 p.m., the van left the area, only to return later that night at 10:19 p.m. Multiple flashes of light were seen inside the van, and around 20 minutes later, a man was seen fleeing the scene, appearing to be injured.
The injured man, a neighbor who had been with Herrera earlier in the day, sought medical treatment at a nearby hospital for a gunshot wound. He later told police that Cateura Nogueras had shot him twice. One bullet had knocked out a tooth, which was found on the floor of the storage unit, while another grazed his face before exiting through his arm. The man also recalled that Cateura Nogueras had told him that Herrera was “tied up” inside the storage unit, though he did not know where the victim was at the time.
Using cellphone tracking data, authorities traced Cateura Nogueras to Buchanan County, Missouri, in the early hours of April 8. A deputy discovered his vehicle parked at a general store, where Cateura Nogueras was found with his daughter. A .22 caliber Phoenix Arms handgun was recovered from the vehicle.
Cateura Nogueras was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Ariel Varella Herrera and second-degree assault for the shooting of the injured neighbor. During his court appearance, Cateura Nogueras pleaded no contest to the charges. The court proceedings concluded with his sentencing set for January 22, 2025.
The case brought attention to a disturbing situation of abuse and violence within a shared living arrangement. The father’s actions, driven by his belief that his daughter was in danger, led to a deadly confrontation that ended with the death of his roommate. This incident highlights the devastating consequences of abuse and the emotional turmoil that can drive individuals to extreme measures in an attempt to protect loved ones.
