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: 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: 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: 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: Unknown
Date Reported: May 23, 1990
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Laura Guerra
Age 22
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1111 W. Main Street.
RIO MOTEL
Rio Grande City Texas, 78582
Starr County
L.E.A Starr County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

On May 23rd, 1990, the dead body of Laura Guerra,22, was found in a wooded area across the road from the Rio Motel in Rio Grande City. The RIO MOTEL is located at 1111 W. Main Street. Investigators believe that Guerra was murdered at another location, possibly at the motel, and that her body was dumped in the wooded area. Autopsy results indicate that Guerra was killed three days earlier by a gunshot wound to the head. Several clues were followed, but the case went cold. Texas Rangers and the Starr County Sheriff’s Office have reopened this case, and are seeking the public’s help for information to help identify Guerra’s killer. Investigators believe that a possible witness may have information on this crime, and are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person known in the area, in 1990, known as "Gaston Garza," or "Mariano".
CCR: 03-31820
Date Reported: December 31, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 6
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location F.M. 493 & 12 1/2 N. E. on Victoria Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
CCR: 08-37325
Date Reported: September 25, 2208
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Eugenio Morales
Age 77
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Suspicious Death
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location E. Steward Rd. on Old 7 Mile Line
Mission TX, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

Eugenio Morales, 77, was called to his heavenly home by the Lord on Thursday, September 25, 2008 in Mission, Texas. Mr. Morales was born to Franco Lucio and Tomasa Morales on November 15, 1930 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Left to cherish his loving memory is his wife, Manuela Morales of McAllen; his sons, Tomas (Diana) Morales, Eugenio Morales Jr., and Jose Simon Morales all of McAllen; his daughters, Teresa (Felix) Trevino, Irene Morales, Martha Morales, Elia Morales and Gloria Morales Hinojosa, all of McAllen. Also left to cherish his memory is his sister, Victorina Morales; along with twenty-four grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.
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: 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
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: April 18, 2006
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Merardo Magana Garza
Age 63
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location West
Los Ebanos Texas`, 78565
Hidalgo
L.E.A unknown

Cold Case Spotlight

Merardo Magana Garza was lovingly known as “Tano.” He was adored by many in the city of Mission and was known to be a sharp dresser and a ladies' man. The 63-year-old father was found dead on April 18, 2006 west of Los Ebanos. According to Chavez, at the time investigators could not determine Garza’s cause of death. “Officials were unable to see or say how he died because his body was burned and decomposed,” said Chavez. “But, it was ruled as a homicide, the cause is just undetermined.” Garza still had his jewelry when officials found him, according to Chavez... Chavez said investigators have been unable to reach out to family members for new leads and investigators have no trace of the immediate family. ValleyCentral located his obituary, which said Garza was married with children.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: December 23, 2008
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Walton 'Pinky" Sanchez
Age 48
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Joanna Avenue and 22nd Street
Mission Texas, 78572
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Mission Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

According to his sister Liz Garza, his brother Pinky was fatally shot outside a neighbor's house Tuesday while he was drinking beer with a friend. Walton "Pinky" Sanchez, 48, was sitting under a carport at the corner of Joanna Avenue and 22nd Street when a COPPER car pulled up and the driver called him over. Sanchez approach the vehicle had a brief conversation with someone inside and then was fatally shot in the chest. Police and friends suspect Sanchez knew his assailant(s). He was born July 8, 1960, the baby of the family who grew up playing baseball like his father, Eduardo Sanchez, had before him. His father also had a knack for acquiring nicknames, as he was known as “El Zurdo” in addition to “Lefty.” The case remains unsolved. No Justice. No Peace.