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: 88-20526
Date Reported: December 11, 1988
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 east of FM 1426 on Eldora Rd
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

CCR: 99-5930
Date Reported: April 6, 1999
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

CCR: 08-37325
Date Reported: September 25, 2208
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Eugenio Morales
Age 77
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Suspicious Death
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location E. Steward Rd. on Old 7 Mile Line
Mission TX, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

Eugenio Morales, 77, was called to his heavenly home by the Lord on Thursday, September 25, 2008 in Mission, Texas. Mr. Morales was born to Franco Lucio and Tomasa Morales on November 15, 1930 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Left to cherish his loving memory is his wife, Manuela Morales of McAllen; his sons, Tomas (Diana) Morales, Eugenio Morales Jr., and Jose Simon Morales all of McAllen; his daughters, Teresa (Felix) Trevino, Irene Morales, Martha Morales, Elia Morales and Gloria Morales Hinojosa, all of McAllen. Also left to cherish his memory is his sister, Victorina Morales; along with twenty-four grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.
CCR: 13-55130
Date Reported: October 25, 2013
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jolissa "Socorro" Rangel
Age 20
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 3 Unknown Suspects
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1702 S Closner Blvd
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo County
L.E.A Edinburg Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

On Friday, October 25, 2013, around 9:30 pm Jolissa ‘Socorro” Rangel a 20-year-old female was found shot to death inside her apartment located 2400 block of Kimberly Lane in Edinburg, Texas with a gunshot wound to her heart. Rangel lived with her 2-year-old son and her sister. No justice, No Peace! The family is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of the person/persons responsible for the murder of Jolissa Rangel.
CCR: 02-15529
Date Reported: June 27, 2002
VICTIM DETAILS
Name John Doe 13
Gender Unknown
Race Unknown
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location w. Iowa Rd on 5 mile line
Mission Texas, 78503
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

CCR: 13-03653
Date Reported: January 29, 2013
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Dora Elia Gaitan
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 802 Church
San Juan Texas, 78589
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo CO. Sherriff's Office

Dora Elia Gaitan was fatally shot in her home in San Juan, Texas on January 29th, 2013.
CCR: 01-29165
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Hector H Camacho
Age 49
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Alberta Rd. & Tower Rd.
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: October 13, 2018
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Irene Ozuna
Age 45
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Mario Lozano Lemus
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Mexico
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1300 block of North Carolina Street in Alton
Penitas TX, 78572
Hidaglo
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

According to officials, 24-year-old Mario Lozano is the main suspect in the death of his mother in law 45-year-old Irene Ozuna and 24-year-old Maria Angelita Vasquez, his sister-in-law.Vasquez’s husband who chose to remain anonymous, says he witnessed the incident. He adds Lozano has been part of their family for a few years and this situation comes as a shock. The witness says that on Saturday night, the suspect’s wife called her sister and mother asking for help because she was having a fight with her husband at their home. The victim’s husband adds his mother in law was shot in the head inside the house and died instantly. His wife also received a shot to the head and died while waiting for medical attention. Authorities are still searching for Lozano. If you have any information on his whereabouts contact Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers at (956) 668-8477 Should your tip lead to an arrest, apprehension or prevention of a crime, you may be eligible for a cash reward up to 1,000 Dollars
CCR: 96-24404
Date Reported: August 24, 1996
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jose Guadalupe Salinas
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 (HWY 107) o5n Iowa Rd
Mission Texas, 78572
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office

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.