Rio Grande Valley Friends and Families of Murdered Children

Rio Grande Valley Friends and Families of Murdered Children

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND RIO PROJECT COLD CASE (HOMICIDE) DATABASE

This database will consist of unsolved homicides.  The Rio Grande Valley database will be composed of the four-county area: 1) Hidalgo, 2) Cameron, 3) Starr and 4) Willacy counties. All victims are submitted by law enforcement or the victims' families. Additional counties will be added to this database as time and funding permit. Keeping your loved one's case in the PUBLIC EYE is a good thing.

To submit your loved one for consideration please Fill out form Case Summary Form. Rio Project Cold Case is not a private investigative firm.

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167 cases found.
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: Unknown
Date Reported: August 12, 2008
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Manuel Olivarez Jr.
Age 42
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Missing Person (Presumed Murdered)
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Unknown
Rio Grande City TX, 78582
Starr
L.E.A Starr County Sheriff's Office
According to law enforcement sources Manuel was kidnaped possibly from Rio Grande City area during the day in 12-08-2008. As time passes, the investigation leads become fewer. Leads are essential in helping solve a missing person’s case. Do not be afraid to get involved, should know something about this case you can call a Tip Line anonymously with information. Any Tip on evidence or information - regardless you think is significant or not – you should be reported. “If You See Something, Say Something" and submit a Tip Online at https://www.fbi.gov/tips
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: January 8, 1973
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Candyce Fletcher-Mora
Age 23
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Louis Brewster
Offense Murder
Cause Knife/Stabbing
Location deceased
CASE DETAILS
Status Solved
Incident location 411 Lozano
Harlingen Texas, 78550
Cameron County
L.E.A Harlingen Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

In the morning hours of January 8th, 1973, the dead body of Candyce Fletcher-Mora has discovered in her apartment located at 411 Lozano in Harlingen, Texas, in the North Star Village Apartments. The autopsy revealed that Candyce was stabbed numerous times. Candyce was the mother of a two-year-old daughter. Candyce's daughter was located unharmed inside the apartment where Candyce was murdered.
CCR: 96-26006
Date Reported: September 10, 1996
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Suspicious Death
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Whalen Rd and Border Rd
Donna Tx, 78537
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: Unknown
Date Reported: May 12, 2005
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alberto Castaneda
Age 74
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Mile 10 N and Mile 1 W
Mercedes Texas, 78570
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

When deputies arrived, they discovered the bodies of 52-year-old Reynaldo Castaneda and 74-year-old Alberto Castaneda. Newspaper archives indicate that the men were a father and his son. 74-year-old, Alberto Castaneda At the time, authorities said there was clear evidence of foul play. In January 2021 the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information about the double homicide to come forward.
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.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: August 25, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Enedelia Benavides
Age 26
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 6315 N. Gold Avenue
Trailer House located in the 6300 block of Gold Avenue
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Edinburg Police Department
On August 25, 2002, at approximately 2:00 am the suspect(s) enter the residence and fatally shot Michael and Enedelia. The killings mystified Edinburg Police Department investigators and who have no clues who committed the murders of Jason Buckelew and his common-law wife, Enedelia Benavidez, 26, who were from Houston, Texas. They both were shot in the head located at 6315 Gold Avenue in Edinburg, Texas. Jason died shortly after at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas and she died in San Antonio Texas Hospital. There was a third victim, Esmeralda Reyes, 26, who survived and remained in critical condition at the San Antonio hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. BENAVIDES and BUCKELEW were deaf and mute.This case remains unsolved. No Justice. No Peace.
CCR: 02-9484
Date Reported: April 21, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Fernando Fernandez De Cara
Age 52
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1 mile N of FM 1925 on Big Five Rd.
Edinburg TX, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
Fernando was murdered along with two others on April 21st, 2002. This case remains unsolved and no new information has surfaced in almost 2 decades. No Justice, No Peace.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: July 29, 2005
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Ruben “Yiyo” Tarin de Patino
Age 21
Gender Transgender
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Hit and Run
Cause Beaten/Battered
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location E. Wisconsin Rd.
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

August marks 15 years since Ruben “Yiyo” Tarin de Patino was found murdered. Yiyo, 21, was found dead East of Wisconsin Road in the city of Edinburg in 2005. “He was found burned,” said Hermelinda Chavez with the Hidalgo County Major Crimes Unit. Yiyo was described by family and friends as confident and proud. “She was described as a person who didn’t like to hide her lifestyle,” said Chavez. “She was never ashamed of how she dressed and she was very outgoing with a lot of friends.” Yiyo was last seen by her mother on July 27. She had met several friends and her sister during the day and assisted another friend with car trouble. Yiyo came home and told her mother she was meeting yet another friend, this was around midnight. “She would visit a lot of nightclubs around the area, McAllen and Edinburg,” said Chavez. “She was not aggressive but definitely defended herself.” Chavez added all of the friends that Yiyo met on July 27 were interviewed and had alibis. Investigators and family never confirmed who she had met, according to Chavez. “Family never knew who she met, it was never confirmed,” said Chavez.