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: 12-13023
Date Reported: April 3, 2012
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Yasmin Jove
Age 18
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: 88-20798
Date Reported: December 16, 1988
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Charles McCumber
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location E. of Mile 2 1/2 E. Mile 6 3/4 N.
Mercedes Texas, 78570
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: 96-24404
Date Reported: August 24, 1996
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Beaten/Battered
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 south of Fm 2221 on Iowa Rd
Mission Tx, 78574
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: January 8, 1973
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Candyce Fletcher-Mora
Age 23
Gender Female
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Louis Brewster
Offense Murder
Cause Knife/Stabbing
Location deceased
CASE DETAILS
Status Solved
Incident location 411 Lozano
Harlingen Texas, 78550
Cameron County
L.E.A Harlingen Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

In the morning hours of January 8th, 1973, the dead body of Candyce Fletcher-Mora has discovered in her apartment located at 411 Lozano in Harlingen, Texas, in the North Star Village Apartments. The autopsy revealed that Candyce was stabbed numerous times. Candyce was the mother of a two-year-old daughter. Candyce's daughter was located unharmed inside the apartment where Candyce was murdered.
CCR: 17-06591
Date Reported: February 17, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Antonio Urbina Jr.
Age 62
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Knife/Stabbing
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Country Road 3350 north of Farm-to-Market Road 1422
Monte alto Road Texas, 78538
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Offfice

On February 16, 2017, in Edcouch Antonio Urbina Jr. an Army Veteran was found dead along the side of a Monte Alto road. Antonio Urbina Jr., 62, was found wearing jogging clothes, lying face up in a ditch on Country Road 3350 north of Farm-to-Market Road 1422 at approximately 10:40 a.m. Feb. 16, 2017.
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: 12-20528
Date Reported: May 23, 2012
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Nora Lee Garcia
Age 37
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Miguel Garcia
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location United States
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location 10305 Ramon Ave.
Mission Texas, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
CCR: 04-27413
Date Reported: October 9, 2004
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Donald Gary Hargett
Age 61
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location P.O. Box 289
Linn Texas, 78563
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: January 16, 2011
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jose "Luis" Martinez Jr.
Age 14
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 3 Suspects-Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 232 West Longoria Street
Pharr Texas, 78577
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Pharr Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

Jose Luis Martinez Jr., 14, died with a fatal shot that hit his chest at about 11:31 p.m. on Jan. 16, 2011, during a drive-by shooting on the 200 block of West Longoria Street, according to the Police Department. Two of the bullets each struck relatives 27-year-old Christopher Lee Perez and 30-year-old Jodie Cristina Cross. The single gunshot, believed to have been fired from a .380-caliber pistol, took Jose Luis life. At least three suspected gang members shouted their group’s name — Loco Trece — as they sped away from the 200 block of West Longoria Drive about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Witnesses at the scene described a red passenger vehicle, possibly a Honda, occupied by three to four subjects leaving the crime scene of the shooting westbound on Longoria street in Las Milpas (South Pharr), Texas.
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: August 25, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Michael Buckelew
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
L.E.A Edinburg Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Michael Jason Buckelew and Enedelia Benavides, a deaf couple who met in college, were murdered during a trip to Edinburg. Two days after the 20-year anniversary of the murder, the case remains unsolved. ValleyCentral spoke with officers with the Edinburg Police Department, the lead agency in the investigation, to get more According to police, both Buckelew and Benavides were deaf. They met in college and had a group of friends that were also deaf. In August 2002, the two, who were living in Houston at the time, made an “abrupt” trip to Edinburg to visit family. On the night of Aug. 25, 2002, the two decided to attend a quinceañera with friends part of a deaf community.information on the case. Buckelew and Benavides left the quinceañera, and arrived back at a trailer home located at 6300 block of Gold Avenue in Edinburg. Within minutes of arriving back at the residence, a man covering his face with a bandanna made a forcible entry into the residence. The man shot Buckelew, Benavides and a third female victim. “This is more than likely a targeted incident,” Oscar Trevino, Edinburg PD Lt., said. “Somebody had to have followed them home.” A fourth victim at the residence, another female, was hidden behind a door unbeknownst to the shooter, police believe. She was not harmed in the shooting. According to police, both Buckelew and Benavides died as a result of the shooting. One died at the scene, and the other died at a hospital. The third victim in the shooting sustained “very serious injuries” and was airlifted to a military hospital for treatment. A witness that lived in the area told investigators they heard shots nearby. They then looked out the window and caught a glimpse of the suspect. The description of the suspect remains vague. He is described as an average-sized male, who had his face covered during the attack. He was said to be wearing dark clothing and driving a black passenger vehicle that appeared to be new, with shiny rims. The witness saw the suspect as he left the residence, and ran to the awaiting car. It is unknown whether there were others in the vehicle. When asked about the scene of the crime, authorities stated it seemed like a fast attack. It is not known whether anything was taken from the residence, but the surviving witness said everything happened quickly. The investigation of this case was particularly complex because the network of friends and associates that the victims had were also deaf, police said. Special arrangements needed to be made, including having interpreters available during the course of the interviewing process. Detectives with the Edinburg Police Department received assistance from the Texas Rangers. The agencies went to different parts of Texas where they conducted more interviews and executed search warrants with the attempt to find new evidence. “We exhausted everything,” Treviño said. Police said they continue to keep in contact with the family and remain ready for any kind of lead. “As law enforcement, as humans, we want to give them closure,” Gabriel Vela, Edinburg PD Lt., said. “Some time has passed but were more than willing to receive any type of information — and we will follow up on it as if it was the day after the incident.” Those with information on this case are asked to contact the Edinburg Police Department at (956) 289-7700, or the Edinburg Crime Stoppers at (956) 383-TIPS (8477).