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: 02-01918
Date Reported: January 25, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jaime Viacobo
Age 44
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Ruben Villareal
Offense Murder
Cause Beaten/Battered
Location Mission, Tx
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location FM 493 on Mile 10 1/2 Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo CO. Sherriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alan E. Bossom
Age 34
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Robindale Road and FM 3248
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Cameron Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (KVEO) — This month marked 31 years since the murder of Alan E. Bossom was discovered. After a long day, many people can relate to feeling sluggish while driving home, so when a passerby reported a man asleep at the wheel they did not think that the man could be found dead. On July 4, 1990, Alan E. Bossom was found dead at the wheel of a vehicle at the intersection of Robindale Road and FM 3248 in Brownsville. Bossom had been in town for a couple of days before being discovered murdered. Chief Deputy at the time, Carlos Tapia, reported what sheriff’s deputies had seen when having responded to the crime scene. Tapia stated “they found Bossom inside a 1977 Chevrolet station wagon, slumped over the steering wheel,” according to an article from the Valley Morning Star. Deputies believed the man was asleep, however, after further observation, it became clear that Bossom had been murdered. Bossom had suffered a gunshot wound to his head. He was officially pronounced dead at the scene by the Justice of the Peace at the time, Tony Torres. Investigation revealed that family members did not know he was in town. This investigation remains active and no arrests have been made.
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: 02-10891
Date Reported: May 6, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Rebecca Escobar
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location SE corner if Alberta & Valverde Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: February 15, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jose Guadalupe Martinez
Age 50
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 2485 Military Highway
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Brownsville Police Dept.

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Jose Guadalupe Martinez was found murdered in his office in 2017. Investigators have been able to narrow the timeline of when he was killed, but the case still remains unsolved. At 7:49 p.m. on March 15, 2017, officers responded to Milo’s Tire Shop, located at 2485 Military Highway in Brownsville after a body was found. A man discovered the body, and went to a neighbor who was close by. When the two returned, a third man was there at the scene. The three men then called police and waited for officers to arrive. Upon arrival, officers found Martinez face down, in a pool of blood in his office. He had a gunshot wound to his head, and investigators found one bullet casing at the scene. The man who originally discovered Martinez’ body arrived at the store at 7:35 p.m. to pay for some rims he had purchased. Investigators at the scene later found a receipt Martinez had from a purchase at a dollar store at 7 p.m. that same day. With this information, they were able to determine that Martinez was murdered at some time between 7 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. However, Brownsville police said they have “no leads whatsoever,” with the case.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: August 27, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Ruth A. Melton
Age 79
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Unknown
Unknown
Weslaco Texas, 78596
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Weslaco Police Department

On the night of August 26-27, 1988, an unknown person entered the home of Ruth Melton, 79-year-old women bludgeoned to death. An unknown suspect(s) entered the house through an unlocked door and went into Ruth`s bedroom, where he beat her to death. It is unknown what weapon the suspect(s) used in the beating. An autopsy confirmed that Ruth`s death was caused by a blunt force object to the head. She suffered a fractured skull and created a massive blood loss.
CCR: 20-40271
Date Reported: November 14, 2020
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Brandon Lopez
Age 25
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location On Saturday morning, the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office dispatched deputies to the 600 block of East 6th Street in La Villa, where someone had reported gunshots, according to a tweet from Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. "Eddie" Guerra.
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 925 E 6th St
La Villa Texas, 78562
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

LA VILLA, Texas (KVEO) — One man is dead after a shooting in La Villa. According to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), officers responded to the 600 Block of East 6th Street in La Villa on Saturday morning in reference to a shooting. Officers discovered the dead body of Brandon Lopez, 25, with multiple gunshot wounds. HCSO is investigating further. No other details are available at this time.
CCR: 15-46472
Date Reported: November 19, 2015
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 3
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 3105 Fresa
Mission Texas, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

CCR: 03-31820
Date Reported: December 31, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 6
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location F.M. 493 & 12 1/2 N. E. on Victoria Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

CCR: 95-10363
Date Reported: April 18, 1995
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Serge Luis Trevino
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Knife/Stabbing
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 6 3/4 N. Shary Rd.
Mission Texas, 78574
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office