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: 01-6534
Date Reported: March 29, 2001
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 11
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Uknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location U.S. 83 & Victoria Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

CCR: 03-31103
Date Reported: December 24, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Todd King
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location South of Bus 83 on Valley View Road North of Donna
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 92-11150
Date Reported: May 25, 1992
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jesus J. Sosa
Age 37
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 North of Exp. 83 on Valverde Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

CCR: 94-022142
Date Reported: April 2, 1994
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Orlando Aguirre
Age 26
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 W. 2 1/2 W
Mission Texas, 78574
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: February 15, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jose Guadalupe Martinez
Age 50
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 2485 Military Highway
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Brownsville Police Dept.

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Jose Guadalupe Martinez was found murdered in his office in 2017. Investigators have been able to narrow the timeline of when he was killed, but the case still remains unsolved. At 7:49 p.m. on March 15, 2017, officers responded to Milo’s Tire Shop, located at 2485 Military Highway in Brownsville after a body was found. A man discovered the body, and went to a neighbor who was close by. When the two returned, a third man was there at the scene. The three men then called police and waited for officers to arrive. Upon arrival, officers found Martinez face down, in a pool of blood in his office. He had a gunshot wound to his head, and investigators found one bullet casing at the scene. The man who originally discovered Martinez’ body arrived at the store at 7:35 p.m. to pay for some rims he had purchased. Investigators at the scene later found a receipt Martinez had from a purchase at a dollar store at 7 p.m. that same day. With this information, they were able to determine that Martinez was murdered at some time between 7 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. However, Brownsville police said they have “no leads whatsoever,” with the case.
CCR: 99-18929
Date Reported: November 3, 1999
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Juan Luis Garza Alaniz
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location North of 9 North on 6 1/2 West
Weslaco Texas, 78596
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 88-20798
Date Reported: December 16, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Charles McCumber
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location E. of Mile 2 1/2 E. Mile 6 3/4 N.
Mercedes Texas, 78570
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 03-7374
Date Reported: April 1, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Norma Alvarez
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 8 1/2 north Bentsen Palm drive
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: 88-6088
Date Reported: April 8, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Diana Perez
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 Mile E. of Texan on FM 2221
Mission Texas, 78574
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

On April 8th, 1988, bar owner and operator Diana Perez was fatally shot in her own bar (Perez Bar). This case remains unsolved for over 3 decades. She will forever be remembered. No justice, No peace.
CCR: 15-48120
Date Reported: December 2, 2015
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Patricia Aevedo Chavez
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 12927 Santawan
Mercedes Texas, 78570
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

Patricia A. Chavez was fatally shot in her home on December 2nd, 2015 at approximately 8:50 pm in Mercedes, Texas.