In 2007, twenty-five-year-old Amber Belken managed an EB Games store on San Pedro Avenue in San Antonio, Texas. When she didn't open the shop on time, a district manager sent another local store manager, Mariano Rivera, to investigate. Mariano arrived to find the store locked, though Amber's car was parked outside. Peering through the front glass, he spotted Amber's assistant manager, Brandon Beal, standing inside. When Brandon finally let him in, Mariano rushed to the back storeroom and discovered Amber lying face down with a plastic bag wrapped tightly around her head.
Who was responsible for this brutal crime? For over a year, the case stalled without surveillance footage or immediate eyewitnesses. Investigators initially focused heavily on Brandon Beal due to workplace friction, but forensic breakthroughs eventually exposed a former co-worker named Geovany Rivera as the true killer.
The Immediate Investigation and Early Suspicions
Detectives arrived at a chaotic crime scene. Approximately nineteen hundred dollars in cash and multiple video game consoles had been stolen from the store safe. Because the location lacked security cameras, investigators deduced that the perpetrator must have possessed insider knowledge—someone who knew the store's routines, banking schedules, and layout.
Attention quickly turned to assistant manager Brandon Beal. Investigators learned that Amber had grown deeply dissatisfied with Brandon's performance and had prepared a negative performance review to formally write him up that very day. The potential motive—preventing a termination or lashing out over a reprimand—made Brandon a prime suspect. Furthermore, witnesses questioned why Brandon had remained inside the closed store for hours without actively searching for his missing manager.
Despite these suspicious circumstances and workplace tension, Brandon was eventually cleared. Alibis and lack of physical evidence tying him to the homicide pointed police away from him and toward a more chilling possibility: an outside attacker with inside connections.
Uncovering the Real Culprit: Geovany Rivera
The investigation turned when forensic technicians analyzed physical evidence recovered from the scene. A single hair found near Amber's body provided the crucial DNA link that investigators needed. When run through databases, the profile matched Geovany Rivera, a former employee who had previously worked within the company.
Geovany had attempted to recruit an acquaintance to help him rob the store on the morning of the murder. When he carried out the robbery, Amber recognized him. Panicking at the risk of being identified, Geovany attacked her, wrapping a plastic bag around her head and suffocating her before fleeing with cash and merchandise. Following the crime, Geovany fled to Mexico to evade capture, living as a fugitive before authorities tracked him down and brought him back to Texas to face trial.
Trial, Plea, and Sentencing
Facing mounting forensic evidence and an airtight case built by San Antonio prosecutors, Geovany Rivera chose to plead guilty rather than risk a full trial. In 2010, a Texas court sentenced him to life in prison for the murder.
During the sentencing hearing, Amber's grieving family and friends addressed the court. Her father delivered a poignant statement emphasizing the wide-reaching devastation of the crime, noting that the loss shattered the entire family unit. Prosecutors ensured that conditions of his sentence left little room for early freedom, and her loved ones vowed to oppose any future parole bids.
The case later gained national attention, featuring prominently on true-crime programs like Dateline NBC and On the Case with Paula Zahn, highlighting how retail vulnerabilities and insider access can intersect with tragic results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Amber's store closed when coworkers arrived?
The store remained locked on the morning of the murder because Amber had been attacked and killed shortly after arriving to open up. Her assistant manager, Brandon Beal, was already inside but claimed he was unaware she was incapacitated in the back storeroom.
How did police connect Geovany Rivera to the murder?
Investigators cracked the case using physical evidence left behind at the scene. A single hair recovered near Amber's body yielded a DNA profile that matched Geovany, a former employee who knew the store's operations.
What was the motive behind the attack?
The incident began as a robbery targeting store cash and video game consoles. Investigators and court testimonies established that the robbery turned fatal because Amber recognized Geovany, prompting him to panic and suffocate her to eliminate a witness.
Did Brandon Beal face any criminal charges?
No. Although Brandon was initially eyed as a primary suspect due to an impending negative work review and workplace friction, investigators cleared him after finding no physical or circumstantial evidence linking him to the homicide.
