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: 94-15848
Date Reported: June 18, 1994
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alonso Garcia Ayala
Age 32
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 2 miles N SH 107 on FM 1425
Edcouch Texas, 78538
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
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: 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: 90-13742
Date Reported: September 18, 1990
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location 2 1/2 miles north FM 492
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
CCR: 13-55130
Date Reported: October 25, 2013
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jolissa "Socorro" Rangel
Age 20
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 3 Unknown Suspects
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1702 S Closner Blvd
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Edinburg Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

On Friday, October 25, 2013, around 9:30 pm Jolissa ‘Socorro” Rangel a 20-year-old female was found shot to death inside her apartment located 2400 block of Kimberly Lane in Edinburg, Texas with a gunshot wound to her heart. Rangel lived with her 2-year-old son and her sister. No justice, No Peace! The family is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of the person/persons responsible for the murder of Jolissa Rangel.
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: 92-11150
Date Reported: May 25, 1992
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jesus J. Sosa
Age 37
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 North of Exp. 83 on Valverde Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: August 25, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Michael Jason Buckelew
Age 30
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Known
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 6315 Gold Avenue
Mobile home in the 6300 block of Gold Avenue
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Edinburg Texas

Cold Case Spotlight

On August 25, 2002, at approximately 2:00 am the suspect(s) enter the residence and fatally shot Michael and Enedelia. The killings mystified Edinburg Police Department investigators and who have no clues who committed the murders of Jason Buckelew and his common-law wife, Enedelia Benavidez, 26, who were from Houston, Texas. They both were shot in the head located at 6315 Gold Street in Edinburg, Texas. Jason died shortly after at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas and she died in San Antonio Texas Hospital. There was a third victim, Esmeralda Reyes, 26, who survived and remained in critical condition at the San Antonio hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. BENAVIDES and BUCKELEW were deaf and mute. This case remains unsolved. No Justice. No Peace.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: October 18, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Rosvel Garza
Age 19
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 near 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 brothers 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: July 14, 2001
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Denise Villarreal
Age 16
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
L.E.A Cameron County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

On 07-14-2001, at approximately 2:45 PM, the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a deceased body found one-half mile east of the Shrimp Basin off of State Highway 48 in Cameron County, Texas. The victim was later identified as Denise Villarreal. At the time of her death, Villarreal was 16 years old and listed as a runaway.