Ramiro Felix Gonzales was born in Texas on November 5, 1982. His life began under difficult circumstances. His mother was only 17 years old when she gave birth to him, and she struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism. Due to her negligence, Gonzales was raised by his grandparents. He never met his father until he was 19 years old, when they both ended up in the same prison.

Gonzales's early life was marked by pain and trauma. Reports suggest that he was a victim of sexual abuse by his cousin at a young age, around four to six years old. Later, he experienced sexual assault by an older woman when he was about 12 or 13. These experiences affected him deeply.

In school, he did not perform well. Although tests showed that he had a normal brain, his records labeled him as "developmentally delayed." As a result, he faced challenges in learning and social interactions. By the age of 11, Gonzales began to engage in underage drinking and drug use. Before his arrest for murder, Gonzales worked as a fence builder and welder. 

On January 15, 2001, 18-year-old Bridget Fay Townsend was alone at her boyfriend Joe Leal’s home in Bandera County, Texas. Leal, known to be a local drug dealer, was out at the time. That afternoon, Ramiro Felix Gonzales broke into the residence with the intention of stealing drugs. Leal was Gonzales’s supplier, and Gonzales believed there were narcotics inside the house. Upon encountering Townsend, Gonzales panicked after she attempted to contact her boyfriend. He tied her up, stole some cash, but found no drugs. He then abducted her, forcing her into his truck and driving her to his grandfather's property in nearby Medina County.

At the ranch, despite Townsend pleading for mercy, Gonzales raped her. He then shot her with a hunting rifle, killing her. He left her body in a field in Southwest Texas, near Bandera. After Townsend was reported missing, her case remained unsolved for over a year.

Gonzales was arrested in September 2001 for a separate crime involving the kidnapping and rape of another woman named Florence Teich. While in custody, he eventually confessed to the murder of Bridget Townsend. After his confession, authorities were able to locate Townsend's skeletal remains in October 2002.

Gonzales was charged with capital murder. His trial occurred in August 2006, where he was found guilty. The prosecution argued for the death penalty, presenting evidence that Gonzales had a tendency to re-offend. The jury sentenced him to death.

Gonzales’s death sentence underwent several appeals. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected his direct appeal in June 2009 and subsequent appeals in later years. Gonzales's execution faced delays due to various legal issues and his requests for clemency, which included claims about his alleged rehabilitation and desire to donate a kidney.

On June 26, 2024, the day that would have been Bridget Townsend's 41st birthday, Gonzales was executed by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit in Texas.