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: 01-14798
Date Reported: June 1, 2001
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Ricardo "Ricky" Mejia
Age 22
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location N. Sugar RD/W. Minnesota RD
Pharr Texas, 78577
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Pharr Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

The murder of Ricardo "Ricky" Mejia, 22, a third-year business student at the University of Texas-Pan American and was from Laredo Texas. Ricky was in a fraternity and involved at the local church. He had two roommates from Pharr, Texas. He was last seen at a McAllen nightclub Thursday night on May 31, 2001. Ricky was found more than 24 hours later north of Pharr on a dirt road located in between two orange groves Saturday morning located of Sugar and Owassa Road. Ricky was shot once in the chest with a handgun. No Justice, No Peace.
CCR: 2014-00008696
Date Reported: February 4, 2014
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Arturo Hinojosa
Age 32
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 23-year-old Joseph Espinoza 23-year-old Hector Nicolas Medina-Castillo and 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

Cold Case Spotlight

On 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: 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: 14-45067
Date Reported: November 4, 2014
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Roy Vela Cantu
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 4815 MILE 9
McAllen Texas, 78501
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

Roy Vela Cantu was fatally shot on November 4th, 2014 on Mile 9 in McAllen Texas.
CCR: Unknown
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Juan Elias Ramirez
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name "Border Bandits"
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Brownsville Police Dept.

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The murder of a small business owner believed to have been robbed and killed by the “border bandits,” remains unsolved 28 years later. On March 26, 1993, at around 8 a.m., the body of Juan Elias Ramirez was found by the Brownsville Public Utilities water plant. Juan Elias Ramirez was the owner of a local store that was known for selling sodas and chips in Matamoros. Ramirez’s body was discovered with a single gunshot in the back, authorities believe that the gun was a 9mm handgun. Officials told reporters there were signs of robbery. Additionally, investigators reported to the Valley Morning Star there were indications that Ramirez’s murder was connected to the “Border Bandits.” Ramirez was considered the second victim to be killed by the so-called “border bandits” within the same two-weeks. However, no substantial leads or information was revealed, according to the Cameron County Sheriffs Office. This investigation is ongoing. 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: Unknown
Date Reported: June 14, 1998
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Maria Marisella Gonzalez
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Hudson Road
San Benito Texas, 78586
Cameron
L.E.A Cameron County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) – A woman well known by the community disappeared with no trace only for her flesh-eaten body to be discovered days later in a resaca, leaving authorities with no leads. 23 years later, the murder of Maria Marisella Gonzalez remains unsolved. Also known as “Marcie,” Gonzalez was a dancer at Crazy Horse Topless Bar. Gonzalez was last seen spending time in Harlingen’s La Placita district on June 8, 1998. Witnesses told authorities that Gonzalez was seen entering a vehicle with a man. The dancer was discovered dead in a resaca near Hudson Road outside San Benito on June 14, 1998, according to the Cameron County Sheriffs’ Office. Gonzalez’s body was found with multiple skull and facial fractures with her face flesh eaten away by “whatever lies in the murky waters.” The 35-year-old woman was identified as “Marcie” through her clothing, jewelry, and the tattoo of a rose on her right shoulder. According to an autopsy report released at the time, Gonzalez’s cause of death was determined to be three blows to the head and face delivered with a blunt object. Preliminary pathology reports ruled her death as a homicide. CCSO Investigator at the time Domingo Diaz told reporters that the agency has questioned all of Gonzalez’s acquaintances but had no leads. Diaz stated that he was sure that “someone saw… something.” As a rise in murders spiked during the time of Gonzalez’s death, reporters spoke with other county officials. Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra emphasized the importance of witnesses, stating murders like Gonzalez’s, that lack witnesses tend to go unsolved. This case remains an open investigation. Individuals with any information on this case are asked to call the Cameron County Crime Stoppers at their hotline: (866)-350-5551 or (956)-350-5551.
CCR: 11-26645
Date Reported: June 27, 2011
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Stanley Diah
Age 51
Gender Male
Race African American/Black
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 11-26645
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location S. Eldora Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 01-29165
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Hector H Camacho
Age 49
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Alberta Rd. & Tower Rd.
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: December 21, 1989
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Efrain Garcia Villarreal
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
L.E.A Cameron County Sheriff's Dept

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A night out takes a turn for the worse after a man’s body was discovered beaten the morning after. 32 years later, Efrain Garcia Villarreal’s murder remains unsolved with no arrests. Villarreal was last seen on December 21, 1989, around 2 a.m. at the Taconazo Bar located in Cameron Park. According to the Cameron County Sheriffs Office, Villarreal was reported to have last been seen with a man known as “El Shorre” or the “Short One.” As the night came to an end and a new day began, Villareal’s body was found on Salida Del Sol Road. The investigation revealed that Villareal had been beaten to death with a heavy type of object that was used to strike him several times. Reporters at the time attempted to contact the Cameron County Sheriffs Office for more information but were not successful. This investigation remains active. 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: 02-10891
Date Reported: May 6, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Rebecca Escobar
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location SE corner if Alberta & Valverde Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office