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: 14-24315
Date Reported: June 11, 2014
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 4
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unkown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 2419 Melissa
Weslaco Texas, 78596
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

CCR: 93-6243
Date Reported: March 14, 1993
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Benito Garza
Age 82
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location North of the radiostation on "I" road
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: April 18, 2006
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Merardo Magana Garza
Age 63
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location West
Los Ebanos Texas`, 78565
Hidalgo
L.E.A unknown

Cold Case Spotlight

Merardo Magana Garza was lovingly known as “Tano.” He was adored by many in the city of Mission and was known to be a sharp dresser and a ladies' man. The 63-year-old father was found dead on April 18, 2006 west of Los Ebanos. According to Chavez, at the time investigators could not determine Garza’s cause of death. “Officials were unable to see or say how he died because his body was burned and decomposed,” said Chavez. “But, it was ruled as a homicide, the cause is just undetermined.” Garza still had his jewelry when officials found him, according to Chavez... Chavez said investigators have been unable to reach out to family members for new leads and investigators have no trace of the immediate family. ValleyCentral located his obituary, which said Garza was married with children.
CCR: 17-47711
Date Reported: December 8, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Heather N. Indoe
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Hit and Run
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unkown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 5218 Wassell
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

CCR: 13-03653
Date Reported: January 29, 2013
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Dora Elia Gaitan
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 802 Church
San Juan Texas, 78589
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo CO. Sherriff's Office

Dora Elia Gaitan was fatally shot in her home in San Juan, Texas on January 29th, 2013.
CCR: 02-01918
Date Reported: January 25, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jaime Viacobo
Age 44
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Ruben Villareal
Offense Murder
Cause Beaten/Battered
Location Mission, Tx
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location FM 493 on Mile 10 1/2 Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo CO. Sherriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: April 29, 1991
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Guadalupe Lozano III
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1 mile East of the Village Hut Store on Highway 4
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Cameron County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A young man’s Saturday night out took a turn for the worst as his body was discovered a few hours later “bullet-riddled” and left for passerby’s to find. 30 years later, Guadalupe Lozano III’s murder remains unsolved with no arrests. Like many in their youth, Lozano hit the town for a night out on April 27, 1991. Lozano was last seen Sunday early morning around 2 a.m. getting into a Mercury Cougar with Mexican licenses plates along with 3 other men. Leaving a popular location at the time, the Casa Blanca Night Club in Brownsville, Lozano was never seen by the public after calling his evening a night with the other men. Cameron County Sheriff Deputies reported the body was found along Highway 4 at around 7:30 a.m. April 29, according to a report from the Valley Morning Star. Lozano’s body was discovered approximately a mile east of the Village Hut Store on Highway 4, according to a release from Cameron County Sheriff Eric Garza. Cameron County Sheriffs Office spokesperson told the Valley Morning Star that Lozano’s body was discovered with 13 bullet wounds to his head. Lozano’s body was identified through his numerous tattoos, one including his last name. Investigators later identified one of the three men as Bernabe Sosa, but have not made any arrests in the case. This case remains an open investigation. If you have any information on this case, please call the Cameron County Crime Stoppers at their hotline: (866)-350-5551 or (956)-350-5551.
CCR: 06-22986
Date Reported: July 3, 2006
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Juan Alvarado
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location South of Bus 83 on Scott Lane West on Daniel
Mission TX, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 12-13023
Date Reported: April 3, 2012
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Sandra Alcazar
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 10680 N. La Homa
Mission TX, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 17-06591
Date Reported: February 17, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Antonio Urbina Jr.
Age 62
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Knife/Stabbing
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Country Road 3350 north of Farm-to-Market Road 1422
Monte alto Road Texas, 78538
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Offfice

On February 16, 2017, in Edcouch Antonio Urbina Jr. an Army Veteran was found dead along the side of a Monte Alto road. Antonio Urbina Jr., 62, was found wearing jogging clothes, lying face up in a ditch on Country Road 3350 north of Farm-to-Market Road 1422 at approximately 10:40 a.m. Feb. 16, 2017.