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: 91-01339
Date Reported: January 28, 1991
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
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: 88-6941
Date Reported: April 23, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Hector Alaniz
Age 24
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Jackson & FM 1925
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: October 9, 1984
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Kim Sue Leggett
Age 21
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Missing Person (Presumed Murdered)
Cause Other
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 2364 Mile 12 N.
Ross Cotton Gin
Mercedes Texas, 78570
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Mercedes Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

On 10-09-1984 between 4:30 PM and 4:45 PM, 21-year-old Kim Sue LEGGETT was abducted from the Ross Cotton Gin in Mercedes, Texas, where she worked as a secretary. Mrs. LEGGETT was last seen in the company of two unknown males. Mrs. LEGGETT's father received a ransom telephone call from an unidentified male within a few minutes of her kip/abduction. A few days later, her mother and father received another ransom letter via mail. Neither the telephone call or the message was followed up by the kidnappers. Mercedes Law Enforcement investigators presume that Mrs. LEGGETT was murdered by her kidnappers and her body has never been recovered. Mrs. LEGGETT left behind her husband and a young son along with her immediate family. She has Blonde hair, blue eyes. Leggett has a scar on her chin. Her both ears are pierced. No Justice. No Peace.
CCR: 96-24404
Date Reported: August 24, 1996
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jose Guadalupe Salinas
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Beaten/Battered
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 South of FM 2221 (HWY 107) o5n Iowa Rd
Mission Texas, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
CCR: 92-23522
Date Reported: October 19, 1992
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location south side of bus. 83 on Hutto Rd.
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: June 5, 2001
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Genaro Melendez
Age 30
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
L.E.A Cameron County Sheriff's Dept

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 30-year-old man survived a kidnapping only to be captured and murdered a few years later, authorities continue to look for his murderer two decades later. As the lone survivor in a drug-related kidnapping, Genaro Melendez believed he was in the clear for years but he was kidnapped again in 2001. Melendez was lured into a vehicle at approximately 2:30 a.m. on June 5, 2001, to never again be seen alive. A few days later Melendez’s body was discovered in an empty field, near Boca Chica Beach. His body was found “tied up and had sustained three shots through the head,” according to Cameron County Sheriff at the time, Conrado M Cantu. Sheriff Cantu told reporters from the Brownsville Herald that Melendez’s body appeared to have been killed “execution-style.” The investigation revealed that Melendez’s murder was drug-related. The Cameron County Sheriffs Office does have a person of interest in this case, however, no arrests have been made and the case remains active. If you have any information on this case, please call the Cameron County Crime Stoppers at their hotline: (866)-350-5551 or (956)-350-5551.
CCR: 03-19852
Date Reported: August 17, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 10
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unkown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location N. of 4 Mile Line on Inspiration Rd.
Mission Texas, 78503
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO
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.
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