Rio Grande Valley Friends and Families of Murdered Children

Proudly Introduces the RIO PROJECT COLD CASE HOMICIDE DATABASE: A Regional Initiative to Spotlight Unsolved Murders and Amplify the Voices of Victims and Their Families

The Rio Grande Valley Families and Friends of Murdered Children (RGV-FFOMC) is honored to announce the launch of the Rio Project Cold Case Homicide Database—a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to centralize and bring public attention to unsolved homicide cases throughout the Rio Grande Valley. This comprehensive and publicly accessible database will be a powerful tool for elevating awareness, supporting grieving families, and encouraging renewed investigative efforts.

Phase I – County Coverage:
The initial rollout will include unsolved homicide cases submitted from the following four counties:
  • Hidalgo County
  • Cameron County
  • Starr County
  • Willacy County

Each entry will be verified and submitted by either:
  • Local law enforcement agencies, or
  • Surviving family members seeking to keep their loved one’s memory alive and case visible.
RGV-FFOMC plans to expand the database to include additional counties across the region as resources allow.

Why This Matters:
Keeping a homicide victim’s case in the public eye not only honors their memory but also increases the likelihood of generating new leads, witnesses, or information that may help bring justice—visibility matters. Awareness saves cases.

How to Submit a Case:
Families or law enforcement agencies wishing to submit an unsolved homicide case for inclusion may do so by completing the official Case Summary -
Cold Case Submission - Google Forms

Submission Form
. Submission does not guarantee immediate inclusion; all entries are subject to verification and review.

⚠️ Please Note:

Rio Project Cold Case is not a private investigative service. This initiative is strictly for public awareness and advocacy purposes. All investigative matters remain under the jurisdiction of the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

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167 cases found.
CCR: 2014-00008696
Date Reported: February 4, 2014
VICTIM DETAILS
Name David Means
Age 22
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 23-year-old Joseph Espinoza, 23-year-old Hector Nicolas Medina-Castillo and 23-year-old Luz Aurora Rivera-Ibarra
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 4800 block of La Vista Avenue
McAllen Texas, 78501
Hidalgo County
L.E.A McAllen Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding three people who have been identified as suspects in connection to a deadly weekend home invasion in McAllen. A home invasion off the 4800 block of La Vista Avenue left Arturo Hinojosa and David Means dead on Saturday night. McAllen police reported on Tuesday morning that three suspects have been identified. Investigators are looking for 23-year-old Joseph Espinoza on murder and aggravated robbery charges. Espinoza was last seen driving a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe. McAllen police also reported that 23-year-old Hector Nicolas Medina-Castillo is also wanted on murder and possession of marijuana charges. A third suspect identified as 23-year-old Luz Aurora Rivera-Ibarra is wanted on a possession of marijuana charge. Investigators say two more suspects only known by their nicknames "El Cholo" and "Boxer" still need to be identified. Anyone with information about the suspects or the case is asked to call McAllen Crime Stoppers at (956) 687-TIPS or (956) 687-8477
CCR: 92-23522
Date Reported: October 19, 1992
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location south side of bus. 83 on Hutto Rd.
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: April 26, 2006
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Efrian Garcia
Age 55
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Reynosa Mexico
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Unknown
Reynosa State of Tamaulipas, 88500
Unknown
L.E.A Mexican Police

Efrain Garcia was murder on April 26, 2006, in Reynosa Mexico after receiving a call for his pest control business. He and a coworker responded to the call for service as they approach the location in entering a Cul-de-sac in a business district in Reynosa Mexico. His co-worker jumped out of the truck and fled the scene. As shots were fired striking Efrain multiple times killing him instead. No Justice. No Peace.
CCR: 17-02143
Date Reported: January 15, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Javier Olvera Jr.
Age 22
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Agustin Mendoza, Francisco Hernandez, Lenin Gonzalez
Offense Hit and Run
Cause Beaten/Battered
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location 6222 Victoria
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

Cold Case Spotlight

A judge sentenced a Donna man to 20 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Wednesday. Lenin Gonzalez, 34, of Donna pleaded guilty to stabbing Javier Olvera with a knife on Jan. 15, 2017. Olvera later died at a hospital. Investigators believe the murder resulted from a dispute over money during a drug deal on the 6000 block of North Victoria Road. Investigators later found a bloody knife believed to be used in the murder during a search warrant at a suspect’s house. Investigators arrested three suspects in connection with Olvera’s death: Gonzalez, then 23-year-old Agustin Mendoza and then 26-year-old Francisco Hernandez. On March 27, 2018, Hernandez pleaded guilty to Olvera’s murder and was sentenced to 30 years in state prison. Mendoza is set to return to court for a pre-trial hearing later this month.
CCR: 90-010906
Date Reported: July 31, 1990
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Leo Cadena
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1 block N of Radio Rd. on McColl East side
Pharr Texas, 78577
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 90-13742
Date Reported: September 18, 1990
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location 2 1/2 miles north FM 492
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alfredo Garcia Brito
Age 34
Gender Male
Race African American/Black
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Cameron Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

The body of a 34-year-old man was found with gunshot wounds in the trunk of a car, 22 years later his murder remains unsolved. Credit: Cameron County Sheriff’s Office Alfredo Garcia Brito, 34, was reported missing to the Brownsville Police Department on Saturday, May 22, 1999, by his mother. On Sunday, the Cameron County Sheriffs’ office came across an abandoned car, a White Chevrolet Celebrity, on the outskirts of Brownsville. The abandoned car was later towed and placed in an impound lot. The owner of Raymond’s Wrecker reported a “foul unbearable smell” coming from the car on May 26, 1999, according to a release from the Cameron County Sheriffs Office.
CCR: 94-11998
Date Reported: May 10, 1994
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1 mile E of tower on Owassa
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: 93-6128
Date Reported: March 13, 1993
VICTIM DETAILS
Name LaVern Cross
Age 73
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Offense Hit and Run
Cause Beaten/Battered
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location S/W Corner of Chapin Rd
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 94-15848
Date Reported: June 18, 1994
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alonso Garcia Ayala
Age 32
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 2 miles N SH 107 on FM 1425
Edcouch Texas, 78538
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office