Woman charged with murder following arson investigation

A Bexar County man is dead, and a woman is behind bars in Calhoun County, charged with murder, following a Monday morning incident that spans both counties.

Faith Paige Goynes, 40, was charged with arson causing bodily injury/death by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office on the evening of Monday, Dec. 23. On Tuesday, murder charges by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office were added.

On Dec. 23 at approximately 10:55 a.m.,  Port Lavaca and Port O’Connor fire departments were dispatched to a vehicle fire at Oyster Point - Commerce and South Washington streets in Port O’Connor, said CCSO Lt. Tyrone Harris

“When first responders arrived on the scene, it was alleged by witnesses that the fire may have been arson,” Harris said. “Witnesses advised deputies that they saw a female subject leaving the area of a burning vehicle before getting into a small watercraft. The female subject was located, and then checked out by Calhoun County EMS for burns and later transported to Memorial Medical Center for injuries before being transported to the Calhoun County Detention Center.”

Through further investigation at the scene, CCSO determined that it was possible that the female subject started the fire.  She was then taken into custody for the offense of alleged arson.

The vehicle in question is a 2024 GMC pickup registered to Tomas Calavera Jr., 30, Bexar County. CCSO deputies contacted Bandera County Deputies who reached Calavera's father in attempt to locate the owner after finding Calvera's ID in possession of the suspect. A welfare check was then conducted by the father of the victim and BCSO deputies at the victim's San Antonio residence, where he was found deceased from a gunshot wound. According to officials, Goynes was the common law wife of the victim.

“Thanks to the quick actions of CCSO deputies, Port O’Connor Texas Game Wardens, local fire departments, Bandera and Bexar County dispatchers and officers, a homicide suspect was captured within approximately five hours,” said Calhoun County Sheriff Bobbie Vickery. 

There is now an ongoing active investigation by CCSO, BCSO, Bandera County Sheriff's Office and the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office. Bond for Goynes has not yet been set.

This story has been updated to reflect the victim's name which has now been released.