Rio Grande Valley Friends and Families of Murdered Children

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND RIO PROJECT COLD CASE (HOMICIDE) DATABASE

This database will consist of unsolved homicides.  The Rio Grande Valley database will be composed of the four-county area: 1) Hidalgo, 2) Cameron, 3) Starr and 4) Willacy counties. All victims are submitted by law enforcement or the victims' families. Additional counties will be added to this database as time and funding permit. Keeping your loved one's case in the PUBLIC EYE is a good thing.

To submit your loved one for consideration please Fill out form Case Summary Form. Rio Project Cold Case is not a private investigative firm.

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167 cases found.
CCR: 05-33920
Date Reported: October 22, 2005
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alberto Banda Jr.
Age 24
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unkown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 0.3 miles W of McColl rd. on Whalen Rd
McAllen Texas, 78501
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

On Oct. 22, 2005, at 2:45 p.m., a runner encountered a naked body West of McColl on Whalen road...After the media reported the story, family members came forward and identified the man as Alberto Rodriguez Banda, Jr. Chavez said Banda was very well-liked. Witnesses told law enforcement they did not understand why he was left dead and naked... Banda had visited one of his brothers on Oct. 19, and that was the last time he was seen alive.
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.
CCR: 11-26645
Date Reported: June 27, 2011
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Stanley Diah
Age 51
Gender Male
Race African American/Black
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 11-26645
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location S. Eldora Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 11-39412
Date Reported: September 18, 2011
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Elias Alvarado
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
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: Unknown
Date Reported: October 11, 1992
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Victor "Hugo" Reyes
Age 19
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Undisclosed
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Unknown
Donna Lake Texas, 78537
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

In 1992, was picked up by friends, then went missing for 11 days before his body was found in a Donna Lake, Texas. Victor Hugo Reyes' murder still remains unsolved. The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office in the primary department investigating this unsolved crime. No Justice, No Peace for the family.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: September 26, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Michael Flores
Age 15
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 201 Forrest Street
Rio Hondo Texas, 78583
Cameron County
L.E.A Rio Honodo Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

On September 26, 1988, at approximately 9:30 PM, Michael Flores returned to his home, 201 Forrest Street in Rio Hondo, after attending band practice. Michael went into his bedroom and began listening to the radio. The occupants of the home heard a gunshot and went to Michael’s bedroom. They found Michael in his bedroom slumped over with a gunshot wound. The shot came from outside the bedroom and struck Michael. Michael was pronounced dead at the scene. No Justice. No Peace.
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: 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

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: 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