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: 17-02143
Date Reported: January 15, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Javier Olvera Jr.
Age 22
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Agustin Mendoza, Francisco Hernandez, Lenin Gonzalez
Offense Hit and Run
Cause Beaten/Battered
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location 6222 Victoria
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

Cold Case Spotlight

A judge sentenced a Donna man to 20 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Wednesday. Lenin Gonzalez, 34, of Donna pleaded guilty to stabbing Javier Olvera with a knife on Jan. 15, 2017. Olvera later died at a hospital. Investigators believe the murder resulted from a dispute over money during a drug deal on the 6000 block of North Victoria Road. Investigators later found a bloody knife believed to be used in the murder during a search warrant at a suspect’s house. Investigators arrested three suspects in connection with Olvera’s death: Gonzalez, then 23-year-old Agustin Mendoza and then 26-year-old Francisco Hernandez. On March 27, 2018, Hernandez pleaded guilty to Olvera’s murder and was sentenced to 30 years in state prison. Mendoza is set to return to court for a pre-trial hearing later this month.
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: 98-00711
Date Reported: January 12, 1998
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Josefat Rodriguez
Gender Female
Race African American/Black
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location between 5 1/2 and 6 west of 12 north
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriffs Office
CCR: 12-13023
Date Reported: April 3, 2012
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Sandra Alcazar
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 10680 N. La Homa
Mission TX, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
CCR: 17-01-004
Date Reported: January 1, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Juan Manuel Belmarez
Age 35
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Jose Borrego St and Hwy 107
Edcouch Texas, 78538
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Edcouch Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

Texas Rangers Lead the Homicide Investigation in the murder of Juan Manuel Belmarez. The murder and shooting death of Juan Manuel Belmarez occur on Reyes St. and South Ave in Edcouch. A white SUV suburban was stopped in the middle of the street with riddle with bullet holes through the front windshields. The murder took place around 7:00 pm on Sunday. The family wants Justice for Juan Belmarez.
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: 03-31820
Date Reported: December 31, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 5
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
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: 89-08624
Date Reported: June 2, 1989
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Juan Jose Marquez
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/10 Mile S. of Rancho Toluca Rd. on Mile 3
Weslaco Texas, 78596
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: May 12, 2005
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Reynaldo Castaneda
Age 52
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.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: January 4, 1992
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

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.