Man Travels 3,400 Miles In 72 Hours To Kill Teen He Met Gaming Online, Police Say

Alexander Baro allegedly went from California to Texas to lure Matthew Thane to his death.

September 14, 2020

Alexander Baro [Flower Mound Police Department]

Alexander Baro [Flower Mound Police Department]

By: Aaron Rasmussen

Police have released the identity of the man they say made a 3,400-mile round trip from his home in Pleasanton, California, to Flower Mound, Texas, within 72 hours to kill a teen boy he met online.

Shortly before 6 a.m. on Aug. 18, a person wearing a helmet and jeans set a propane tank on fire at Matthew Thane’s Flower Mound home in order to lure the 18-year-old outside and fatally shoot him, The Mercury News reported.

“Early in the investigation, police were led to an acquaintance of the victim, who he met through online gaming,” the Flower Mound Police Department said in a news release.

A day after the murder, detectives examined cell phone data that allegedly showed Alexander Frank Baro, 23, had made a trip between the two towns, which takes about 25 hours each way.

Law enforcement in both jurisdictions worked together to obtain a search warrant for Baro’s home, but the suspect “took his own life as police were attempting to have him exit his residence,” an FMPD news release states.

Flower Mound Police Capt. Shane Jennings has said detectives theorized Baro, who is the sole suspect in the murder case, may have had a dispute with Thane over an online game.

A GoFundMe page set up for the victim noted the teenager was “such a unique character, one of a kind” who “never failed to put a smile on someone’s face and brighten their day.”

The investigation into Thane’s death is ongoing.

Next Up

UPDATE: Fugitive From Texas Wanted For Murder And Rape Arrested

Hector Ramirez-Lopez is in custody and faces felony charges for murder and sexual assault-rape.

Classmate Charged In Cheerleader's 1982 Stabbing Death

The high school football captain dating a beautiful cheerleader is a stalwart of small-town tradition, but what happens when a handsome athlete harbors evil in his soul?

Man Freed After Spending 21 Years In Prison For Murder Despite Another Man’s Confession

McKinley ‘Mac’ Phipps said he had stopped believing in people and the system: ‘Everything was just dark.’

Three Men Charged In Killing Of Hip-Hop Legend Jam Master Jay

The Run-DMC DJ was shot to death in a Queens recording studio in October 2002.

Remembering Selena: ‘She Was Just An Amazing Soul’

The iconic musician was shot and killed by the president of her fan club almost three decades ago.

True Crime News Roundup: Police Knew Kidnapped 3-Month-Old Was In Car When They Opened Fire, Killing Him

Plus: Smuggler caught with 52 reptiles concealed in his clothing; missing Hawaiian man found encased in concrete; correctional officer accused of killing his girlfriend; and film director mistakenly handcuffed after bank reports robbery.

5 Key Facts About The Jessica Chambers Murder Case

Jessica Chambers suffered an agonizing death: Firefighters saw her walking toward them, wearing only her underwear & burned over 93 percent of her body.

Aspiring Drug Kingpin Fatally Shot Newlyweds, Plotted Murder-For-Hire Scheme

James Charles Tooley was connected to the 2008 double homicide after his cousin turned him in.

Fugitive Goes On The Run After New Year's Eve Murder In 2011

Louis Rojas stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. According to the U.S. Marshals, Rojas has a strong interest and connection to boxing and could be working out in gyms that offer boxing. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please submit your tips to InPursuitTips.com or text 1-833-378-7783 (3-PURSUE).