Roswell police closed the investigation into the Christmas Eve 2024 killing of Blanca Sauer after confirming the sole suspect died in Mexico.
The department announced Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, that 49-year-old Roberto Dominguez Soto, Sauer's boyfriend, appears to have taken his own life in Mexico sometime in mid-2025. Detectives coordinated with federal and international partners to verify he acted alone before officially closing the case, according to Fox 5 Atlanta, which first reported the closure.
Passersby found Sauer, 47, dead in a ditch near Azalea Drive and Atlanta Street, close to the Chattahoochee River, on Dec. 24, 2024. Investigators determined she had been shot and her body discarded in the area.
Police identified Dominguez Soto as the suspect early in the investigation. He was wanted by local, state and federal authorities, who described him as armed and dangerous, Atlanta News First reported. Interpol also sought him on firearms possession charges.
When detectives received word in mid-2025 that Dominguez Soto had died, the verification process stretched for months. Authorities worked across agencies and international borders to confirm his death and determine whether anyone else was involved before closing the case.
Police have not released a specific motive.
Roswell Police Chief James Conroy called the killing a senseless act of targeted violence, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
The department said in a statement that it shared the update so the community that mourned with the department and helped seek answers would know the final outcome. The department added that its thoughts remain with Sauer's family and loved ones.
Sauer, a Sandy Springs resident, was a mother, grandmother and business owner who built her restaurant from the ground up. Her family described her as someone who loved hiking, photography and feeding homeless people who visited her restaurant. After her death, her family launched a GoFundMe campaign for funeral expenses that raised more than $10,000.
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