Rio Grande Valley Friends and Families of Murdered Children

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: 17-29602
Date Reported: July 26, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 12
Gender Female
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Aristeo Garcia Cervantes
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location 8029 Dallas St.
Edcouch Texas, 78538
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

Cold Case Spotlight

Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra announced Thursday that a 40-year-old Edcouch man recently confessed to killing a woman and dumping her body in a septic tank. Aristeo Garcia Cervantes, 40, of Edcouch confessed to killing a woman and hiding her body in a septic tank, Guerra said Thursday morning during a news conference at the Sheriff’s Office. Cervantes said he killed the woman roughly 10 to 12 years ago and didn’t remember her name, Guerra said, adding that investigators believe the murder occurred in 2004... The Sheriff’s Office started investigating the murder on July 26, 2017, when someone called to report human remains in a septic tank, Guerra said. Investigators went to a home near Edcouch, where Cervantes’ daughter and her boyfriend said they’d been having problems with the septic tank. When the boyfriend and another man attempted to fix the problem, they found a woman’s boot in the septic tank, Guerra said. After they removed the boot, they found a large bone — and called the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators sent the body to a private forensic lab in Virginia for DNA testing, Guerra said. The Sheriff’s Office researched missing women and welfare concerns during the time period, attempting to identify the woman. Investigators are currently talking with a family.
CCR: 91-03917
Date Reported: March 14, 1991
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Edgar Ricardo Carrillo
Age 29
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location E. SH 107
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: October 17, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Mario Alberto Garza
Age 17
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Missing Person (Presumed Murdered)
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location La Sagunada Road, about four miles west of Farm-to-Market-Road 755.
Rio Grande City Texas, 78582
Starr County
L.E.A Starr County Sheriff’s Office

Cold Case Spotlight

The Starr County Sheriff’s Office along with Texas Rangers are asking for the public’s help in locating two missing brothers. On, Mario Alberto Garza, 17, and Rosvel Garza, 19 were reported missing by their family. The two brothers were last seen by friends on October 18, 2017, in a gray Dodge Dakota extended cab pickup. Through the investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle, 2005 Dodge Dakota, was found abandoned and burnt in the woods near La Sagunada Road near Farm-to-Market Road 755. Anyone with information or knows the whereabouts of Mario Alberto Garza and Rosbel Garza are encouraged to contact the Starr County Sheriff’s Office at (956) 487-5571.
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: Unknown
Date Reported: September 6, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Arnaldo Garza Sr.
Age 45
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 822 W Wisconsin Rd
Edinburg Texas , 78539
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Edinburg Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An Edinburg family paid $70,000 for the safe return of their loved one only to have him discovered decomposed in a sugarcane field. Three decades later, Arnaldo Garza’s murder remains unsolved. Garza was a husband and welder, known for starting A&A Welding. The 46-year-old man was taken from his home and used as ransom on November 6, 1988, according to Texas DPS. His family received a call stating that Garza had been kidnapped, demanding money to be delivered to Reynosa, Mexico. Reporting the disappearance to authorities, the family delivered the $70,000 in ransom to an individual in Reynosa. Raul Garza, the Assistant Chief of the Edinburg Police Department at the time, immediately advised the kidnapping to the FBI. Additionally, the family reported the payment to officials. Reports at the time stated that “the family awaited an additional demand for delivery of money and return of Garza with completion of the ransom payment.” However, no further word was ever received. On November 17, 1988, Garza’s body was discovered “badly decomposed” in a sugarcane field near Moore Air Field in Edinburg, according to reports at the time in the Valley Morning Star. The following Wednesday, Garza’s wife identified his body through identification of clothing. Edinburg police also verified identity through dental records. Texas DPS asks anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip HERE. Texas Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $3,000 to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of the person/persons responsible for this crime.
CCR: 04-01590
Date Reported: January 19, 2004
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Hugo Cabrera
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 3815 La Homita Rd
Mission TX, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: October 18, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Eduardo A. Cuellar
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Cameron County
L.E.A Cameron County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

CAMERON COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A knock on the door from a stranger lead to the abduction and murder of a local man. 33 years later, the murder of Eduardo A. Cuellar remains unsolved with no arrests. On October 18, 1988, at approximately 6 p.m. two men arrived at Cuellar’s front door asking for him by name. Cuellar approached the men outside his home when a man put a gun against his rib cage area and forced Cuellar into a black Chevy Balzer where a third man was waiting. The gunman was described as a Mexican man with a mustache wearing a baseball cap, weighing approximately 160 pounds with a height of 5 feet 6 inches, and is estimated to be around 30 years old, according to the Cameron County Sheriffs Office. Family members of Cuellar followed the Chevy from a distance. The vehicle turned around after Cuellar’s body had already been left on the side of the road with multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators say the suspect’s last name may be “Leal” or “Lopez.” This investigation remains active and unsolved. 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: 13-43712
Date Reported: November 2, 2013
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Eleazar Padilla Jr.
Age 28
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 5300 Blk Coyote Circle
Mission Texas, 78574
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

28-year-old Eleazar Padilla Jr. ended up at the hospital in a coma hours after he was shot. Two weeks later, his family made the difficult decision to take him off life support. He leaves behind a wife and five children...
CCR: 05-20114
Date Reported: June 27, 2005
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Heriberto Ahumada
Age 36
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/3 S. 4 Mile Line on Moorefield Rd.
Mission Texas , 78503
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
Heriberto was murdered late morning on June 27th, 2005. His memory forever lives in our hearts and mind. 15 years and nothing has been done to find the person who did this. No Justice, No Peace.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: October 13, 2018
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Irene Ozuna
Age 45
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Mario Lozano Lemus
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Mexico
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1300 block of North Carolina Street in Alton
Penitas TX, 78572
Hidaglo
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

According to officials, 24-year-old Mario Lozano is the main suspect in the death of his mother in law 45-year-old Irene Ozuna and 24-year-old Maria Angelita Vasquez, his sister-in-law.Vasquez’s husband who chose to remain anonymous, says he witnessed the incident. He adds Lozano has been part of their family for a few years and this situation comes as a shock. The witness says that on Saturday night, the suspect’s wife called her sister and mother asking for help because she was having a fight with her husband at their home. The victim’s husband adds his mother in law was shot in the head inside the house and died instantly. His wife also received a shot to the head and died while waiting for medical attention. Authorities are still searching for Lozano. If you have any information on his whereabouts contact Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers at (956) 668-8477 Should your tip lead to an arrest, apprehension or prevention of a crime, you may be eligible for a cash reward up to 1,000 Dollars