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.

Search

Show More Options

167 cases found.
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: 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: April 29, 1991
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Guadalupe Lozano III
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1 mile East of the Village Hut Store on Highway 4
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Cameron County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A young man’s Saturday night out took a turn for the worst as his body was discovered a few hours later “bullet-riddled” and left for passerby’s to find. 30 years later, Guadalupe Lozano III’s murder remains unsolved with no arrests. Like many in their youth, Lozano hit the town for a night out on April 27, 1991. Lozano was last seen Sunday early morning around 2 a.m. getting into a Mercury Cougar with Mexican licenses plates along with 3 other men. Leaving a popular location at the time, the Casa Blanca Night Club in Brownsville, Lozano was never seen by the public after calling his evening a night with the other men. Cameron County Sheriff Deputies reported the body was found along Highway 4 at around 7:30 a.m. April 29, according to a report from the Valley Morning Star. Lozano’s body was discovered approximately a mile east of the Village Hut Store on Highway 4, according to a release from Cameron County Sheriff Eric Garza. Cameron County Sheriffs Office spokesperson told the Valley Morning Star that Lozano’s body was discovered with 13 bullet wounds to his head. Lozano’s body was identified through his numerous tattoos, one including his last name. Investigators later identified one of the three men as Bernabe Sosa, but have not made any arrests in the case. This case remains an open investigation. 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: 91-15956
Date Reported: September 18, 1991
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 mile West of FM2521 on Military Rd
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
CCR: 08-57575
Date Reported: November 7, 2008
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Fernando "Ferny" Luna
Age 18
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 702 W. Expressway 83
Pharr Texas, 78577
Hidalgo
L.E.A Pharr Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

The body of an 18-year-old man was found behind a furniture store along U.S. Expressway 83 in Pharr. Officers responded to a call about shots fired near the Lacks Clearance Center, 702 W. Expressway 83 in Pharr. After they arrived, they discovered the bullet-torn body of Edinburg resident Fernando "Ferny" Luna Jr., 18, according to a Pharr police statement. Police continue to look for a dark-colored, four-door, 2005 or 2006 Cadillac CTS and a light-colored passenger vehicle, possibly a Dodge Neon, according to the statement. He was called "Ferny", was 18 years old and was a student at Edinburg North High School. He loved to play football, ride horses, and hunt. He will be always be remembered by his sweet smile, his genuine kindness, and his charm forever to come.
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: 09-04019
Date Reported: January 30, 2009
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Andres Ruiz
Age 23
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location S. Mile 10 on La Homa Rd.
Alton Texas, 78573
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
CCR: 03-25018
Date Reported: October 15, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location west of Iowa road
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
CCR: 13-43712
Date Reported: November 2, 2013
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Eleazar Padilla Jr.
Age 28
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 5300 Blk Coyote Circle
Mission Texas, 78574
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

28-year-old Eleazar Padilla Jr. ended up at the hospital in a coma hours after he was shot. Two weeks later, his family made the difficult decision to take him off life support. He leaves behind a wife and five children...
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: May 12, 2005
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Alberto Castaneda
Age 74
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Mile 10 N and Mile 1 W
Mercedes Texas, 78570
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

When deputies arrived, they discovered the bodies of 52-year-old Reynaldo Castaneda and 74-year-old Alberto Castaneda. Newspaper archives indicate that the men were a father and his son. 74-year-old, Alberto Castaneda At the time, authorities said there was clear evidence of foul play. In January 2021 the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information about the double homicide to come forward.