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: Unknown
Date Reported: May 7, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Gregory Allen Meredith
Age 43
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Old Port Isabel Road and Highway 100
Cameron County
L.E.A Cameron Country Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

CAMERON COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Murder remains unsolved after 18 years since a body of an almost unidentifiable body was discovered in a canal. Gregory Allen Meredith, 43, body was discovered floating in a canal by a fisherman on May 7, 2003. Cameron County Sheriffs deputies responded to the scene located along Old Port Isabel Road and Highway 100 at 6:45 p.m. Deputies responded after receiving a call from the Laguna Vista Police Department. Officials could not immediately identify Meredith’s body due to severe water damage as well as the fact that his teeth had all been removed, making it impossible to check dental records. Meredith’s body was believed to have been in the canal for two to three days. Meredith’s body was initially reported to have two gunshot wounds, one behind his ear and another at the base of his skull. A preliminary autopsy later revealed that Meredith had eight bullets lodged in his skull. Cameron County Sheriffs Spokeswoman at the time, Elizabeth Anguiano told Valley Morning Star reporters that Meredith was identified as the Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to “get two prints from him.” Fingerprints matched the criminal file of Gregory Allen Meredith out of Bastrop, located southeast of Austin. Authorities told reporters they did not believe the murder was the result of a robbery as Meredith had $115 dollars in his pocket. According to CCSO Meredith was believed to have been involved with a small organization that trafficked meth from Austin. CCSO does have a suspect, however, no arrests have been made. This investigation is ongoing. 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: 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: 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: 02-16480
Date Reported: July 9, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 8
Age 58
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 9 1/4 north of Bentson Palm rd. south of Serenidad Ave.
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: 01-6534
Date Reported: March 29, 2001
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 11
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Uknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location U.S. 83 & Victoria Rd.
Donna Texas, 78537
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

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: 14-38057
Date Reported: September 15, 2014
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 2
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 8800 Tex-Mex
Edinburg Texas, 78539
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office

CCR: 03-18179
Date Reported: July 29, 2003
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 14
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unkown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 8200 W. Exp. 83
Palmview Texas, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: May 23, 1990
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Laura Guerra
Age 22
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1111 W. Main Street.
RIO MOTEL
Rio Grande City Texas, 78582
Starr County
L.E.A Starr County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

On May 23rd, 1990, the dead body of Laura Guerra,22, was found in a wooded area across the road from the Rio Motel in Rio Grande City. The RIO MOTEL is located at 1111 W. Main Street. Investigators believe that Guerra was murdered at another location, possibly at the motel, and that her body was dumped in the wooded area. Autopsy results indicate that Guerra was killed three days earlier by a gunshot wound to the head. Several clues were followed, but the case went cold. Texas Rangers and the Starr County Sheriff’s Office have reopened this case, and are seeking the public’s help for information to help identify Guerra’s killer. Investigators believe that a possible witness may have information on this crime, and are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person known in the area, in 1990, known as "Gaston Garza," or "Mariano".
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: August 25, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Enedelia Benavides
Age 26
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 6315 N. Gold Avenue
Trailer House located in the 6300 block of Gold Avenue
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Edinburg Police Department

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 Avenue 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.