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: Unknown
Date Reported: March 13, 1993
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Victoria Ybarra
Age 29
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Kenyon Rd & Mile 19
Edinburg TX, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

Two decades have passed since a devoted mother of three was found dead in a field near the city of Edinburg. Her oldest daughter was only 7 years old at the time of her death. Victoria Ybarra was described as a beautiful 29-year-old who lived in Edinburg. But her death remains unsolved. The year was 1993. On March 13, two teenagers were driving around Kenyon Road and Mile 19 in the city of Edinburg. While hunting, the two boys discovered Ybarra’s body in a field and called authorities.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: March 23, 2016
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Oneida Alanis Balderas Garza
Age 44
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 200th block of Ebony Court
Rio Grande City Texas, 78582
Starr County
L.E.A Rio Grande City Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

It was around 9:30 am on March 23rd when the bodies of two Rio Grande City CISD employees were found inside the residence of Garza located on the 200th block of Ebony Court. Lourdes M. Elizondo (33) and Oneida Alanis Balderas Garza (44) had been shot execution style with their hands bound. Both women worked in the Business Office of the school district
CCR: 12-20528
Date Reported: May 23, 2012
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Nora Lee Garcia
Age 37
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Miguel Garcia
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location United States
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location 10305 Ramon Ave.
Mission Texas, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
CCR: 2014-00008696
Date Reported: February 4, 2014
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Arturo Hinojosa
Age 32
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 23-year-old Joseph Espinoza 23-year-old Hector Nicolas Medina-Castillo and Luz Aurora Rivera-Ibarra
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 4800 block of La Vista Avenue
McAllen Texas, 78501
Hidalgo County
L.E.A McAllen

Cold Case Spotlight

On Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding three people who have been identified as suspects in connection to a deadly weekend home invasion in McAllen. A home invasion off the 4800 block of La Vista Avenue left Arturo Hinojosa and David Means dead on Saturday night. McAllen police reported on Tuesday morning that three suspects have been identified. Investigators are looking for 23-year-old Joseph Espinoza on murder and aggravated robbery charges. Espinoza was last seen driving a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe. McAllen police also reported that 23-year-old Hector Nicolas Medina-Castillo is also wanted on murder and possession of marijuana charges. A third suspect identified as 23-year-old Luz Aurora Rivera-Ibarra is wanted on a possession of marijuana charge. Investigators say two more suspects only known by their nicknames "El Cholo" and "Boxer" still need to be identified. Anyone with information about the suspects or the case is asked to call McAllen Crime Stoppers at (956) 687-TIPS or (956) 687-8477
CCR: 17-01892
Date Reported: January 14, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Kim Avila Martinez
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 6217 ITHACA
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

CCR: 03-7374
Date Reported: April 1, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Norma Alvarez
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 8 1/2 north Bentsen Palm drive
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: 94-11998
Date Reported: May 10, 1994
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1 mile E of tower on Owassa
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: 92-3426
Date Reported: February 21, 1992
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location unkown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 3 1/2 miles North of FM1925on Walice Rd
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alfredo Garcia Brito
Age 34
Gender Male
Race African American/Black
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Cameron Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

The body of a 34-year-old man was found with gunshot wounds in the trunk of a car, 22 years later his murder remains unsolved. Credit: Cameron County Sheriff’s Office Alfredo Garcia Brito, 34, was reported missing to the Brownsville Police Department on Saturday, May 22, 1999, by his mother. On Sunday, the Cameron County Sheriffs’ office came across an abandoned car, a White Chevrolet Celebrity, on the outskirts of Brownsville. The abandoned car was later towed and placed in an impound lot. The owner of Raymond’s Wrecker reported a “foul unbearable smell” coming from the car on May 26, 1999, according to a release from the Cameron County Sheriffs 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