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.

Search

Show More Options

167 cases found.
CCR: 90-010906
Date Reported: July 31, 1990
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1 mile North of Radio Rd on Mccoll East side
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: 91-2243
Date Reported: February 12, 1991
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jesus Cantu
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/2 Mile S. of Ingle Rd on U.S. 281 E. side
Edinburg TX, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

3 decades have passed and Jesus Cantu's murder is still unsolved with very little information. No Justice, No Peace.
CCR: 02-25785
Date Reported: October 18, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Charles l. Berny
Age 72
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location S. Canton Rd. on Tower Rd.
Edinburg Texas, 78542
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo CO. Sherriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

EDINBURG - Charles "Bud" L. Berny, 72, died, Friday, October 18, 2002, at his residence in Edinburg. He was born June 22, 1930 in Edinburg, Texas. Bud graduated from Edinburg High School and Edinburg Jr. College. He farmed with his father until his father's death where he continued on his own until retirement about two years ago.
CCR: 11-07606
Date Reported: February 24, 2011
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Juan Antonio Flores
Age 47
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 7610 Wagon Trail
Mission Texas, 78574
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 12-24556
Date Reported: June 20, 2012
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Rodolfo Garza Perez
Age 47
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 21402 N. Skinner Rd
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
CCR: 11-39412
Date Reported: September 18, 2011
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 7 AKA: Niero
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location San Bernardino Dr.
Alamo Texas, 78516
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 12-13023
Date Reported: April 3, 2012
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Yasmin Jove
Age 18
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 10680 N. La Homa
Mission TX, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 89-12766
Date Reported: August 14, 1989
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jesus Manuel Gonzalez
Age 28
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 Mile E of FM 3071 on SH 107
Elsa Texas, 78538
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 02-9484
Date Reported: April 21, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Celedonio Solis
Age 21
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Beaten/Battered
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

Celedonio was murdered along with two others on April 21st, 2002. This case remains unsolved, 2 decades have passed and nothing has been done. No Justice, No Peace.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: May 12, 2005
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Reynaldo Castaneda
Age 52
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.