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: 88-20526
Date Reported: December 11, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 mile east of FM 1426 on Eldora Rd
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
CCR: 02-15529
Date Reported: June 27, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 13
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location w. Iowa Rd on 5 mile line
Mission Texas, 78503
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO
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: 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: 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: Unknown
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Angel Torrez
Age 25
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Wagner Ave. & Wabash Street
Bexar
L.E.A San Antonio Police Dept.

Cold Case Spotlight

CCR: 04-01590
Date Reported: January 19, 2004
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Eluina Calderon Ruiz
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 12 1/2 NW on Mile 12
Mission TX, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
CCR: 17-40788
Date Reported: October 16, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Gerardo Alberto Gomez Martinez
Age 38
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Michael Valle Chavez
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 12102 n Los Ebanos Rd
Alton Texas, 785733
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

Cold Case Spotlight

Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra on Tuesday identified the victim of a homicide that occurred Monday night. Gerardo Alberto Gomez Martinez, 38, of Mission was found dead near Alton. As CBS 4 News previously reported: At about 10 p.m. Monday, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to investigate a call about shots fired near the intersection of Mile 7 and North Los Ebanos Road, said Sheriff Eddie Guerra. Investigators found a 38-year-old Hispanic man — wearing blue jeans and a red jacket — dead at the scene. “There was a four-door Nissan passenger car here at the scene. We believe that the victim got to this location in that car,” Guerra said. “The neighbors do not recognize the victim nor the vehicle.” Guerra said investigators determined the Nissan’s license plates didn’t match the vehicle.
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.
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.