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

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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.

VICTIM DETAILS

Name	Marcelino Velazco
Age	17
Gender	Male
Race	Hispanic/Latino

SUSPECT DETAILS

Offense	Murder
Cause	Gun/Firearm

CASE DETAILS

Status	Unsolved
L.E.A	Cameron County Sheriff's Office

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Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In 1992, officers received a call about a body found along the banks of the Rio Grande. Nearly 30 years later, the case remains unsolved. On Oct. 26, 1992, the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office received information that there was a body buried along the banks of the Rio Grande in the area of FM 1419. The next day, investigators found a shallow grave with the body of a man wrapped in a blue tarp. After forensic testing, the body was identified as 17-year-old Marcelino Velazco. Velazco had previously been reported missing. He was last seen on Aug. 22, 1992, getting inside of a small, red two-door T-top vehicle at the 6000 block of Camelia Street in Brownsville. The Sheriff’s Office said that there were two “unknown” men in the vehicle. An autopsy revealed that Velazco was struck by a bullet in the upper spinal cord. In a 1992 report by the Valley Morning Star, Cameron County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Ernesto Flores said the murder was “drug-related”, stating Velazco had been involved in trafficking. Authorities said that the murder could have been connected to the slaying of three other men who were found on a Mexican ranch. Previous reports revealed that the suspects tied Velazco with a heavy rope and that his remains had been clawed by animals roaming the area. According to the Valley Morning Star’s report, Velazco’s mother told deputies that two men in Matamoros had confessed to the murder. The two men, Victor Rivera, 19, and Heriberto Ortego Ruiz, were incarcerated for confessing to the murder of three Matamoros residents. “I talked to Mexican authorities, and they said the men arrested never confessed to killing Velazco,” Flores said in the Valley Morning Star’s report. Those with information are asked to contact the Cameron County Crime Stoppers at (956) 350-5551.

VICTIM DETAILS

Name	Rogelio Riojas
Age	43
Gender	Male
Race	Hispanic/Latino

SUSPECT DETAILS

Name	Unknown
Offense	Murder
Cause	Knife/Stabbing
Location	Unknown

CASE DETAILS

Status	Unsolved
Incident location	2nd mobile home E. of 6 1/2 Weslaco Texas, 78596 Hidalgo
L.E.A	Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

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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

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VICTIM DETAILS

Name	Joseph Michael Escobedo
Age	23
Gender	Male
Race	Hispanic/Latino

SUSPECT DETAILS

Name	Unknown
Offense	Murder
Cause	Gun/Firearm
Location	Unknown

CASE DETAILS

Status	Unsolved
Incident location	Schmoker Road Harlingen Texas, 78550 Cameron
L.E.A	Cameron County Sheriff's Office

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Cold Case Spotlight

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Always chosen for jury duty, a man went missing days before trial. His family searched across borders when his body was discovered shot multiple times in a canal. Three decades later, the murder of Joseph Michael Escobedo remains unsolved. Escobedo was a student at Texas Southmost College and a member of the Knights of Columbus, with ambitions to possibly become a teacher, according to reports at the time. The 23-year-old man said goodbye to his family for the last time as he headed out the door for a night out on January 2, 1992. The next day, Escobedo’s parents noticed their son’s absence as his bedroom seemed untouched. Growing concerned following a call from Escobedo’s boss stating he had not arrived for his shift, his father began a search. Escobedo’s father searched jails and police stations in Harlingen, Brownsville, South Padre Island, Reynosa, and even Matamoros. However, there was no trace. After waiting 24-hours, the Escobedos filed an official missing person report with the Brownsville Police Department. On January 4, 1992, Escobedo’s “bullet-riddled” body was discovered that same afternoon in a canal along Schmoker Road, outside Harlingen city limits near Valley International Airport, according to the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said Escobedo was shot eight times with two different weapons. Investigators spoke with Escobedo’s friends who claimed that they last saw him leaning against a car in the parking lot at the Genesis nightclub in Brownsville. Police were not able to determine whether he left by himself or whether someone picked him up. Feeling like they took a “part of [her] heart out,” Escobedo’s mother explained to investigators that her son was a good citizen. Emphasizing how much he enjoyed jury duty, as it was one of his “favorite hobbies.” The mother told reporters with the Valley Morning Star at the time that Escobedo was actually expected in court within days of his disappearance and murder. Escobedo was set to attend the trial of a county case on January 6, 1992. Lieutenant Ernesto Flores with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office told reporters at the time that they could not find a motive. Adding that Escobedo “had a lot of friends, but few enemies.” In their son’s memory, the Escobedos planted a white rose bush under Michael’s bedroom window shortly after his death. Escobedo’s mother shared that she takes the roses that have blossomed to his grave. 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.

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

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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.

VICTIM DETAILS

Name	Unknown
Gender	Unknown
Race	Unknown

SUSPECT DETAILS

Name	Unknown
Offense	Murder
Cause	Unknown
Location	Unknown

CASE DETAILS

Status	Unsolved
Incident location	1/8 mile west of mile 2 east on FM 2629 north
L.E.A	Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

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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

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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.

VICTIM DETAILS

Name	Fernando Fernandez De Cara
Age	52
Gender	Male
Race	Hispanic/Latino

SUSPECT DETAILS

Name	Unknown
Offense	Murder
Cause	Blunt Force
Location	Unknown

CASE DETAILS

Status	Unsolved
Incident location	1 mile N of FM 1925 on Big Five Rd. Edinburg TX, 78539 Hidalgo
L.E.A	Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

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Fernando was murdered along with two others on April 21st, 2002. This case remains unsolved and no new information has surfaced in almost 2 decades. No Justice, No Peace.

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

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