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: 2014-00008696
Date Reported: February 4, 2014
VICTIM DETAILS
Name David Means
Age 22
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name 23-year-old Joseph Espinoza, 23-year-old Hector Nicolas Medina-Castillo and 23-year-old Luz Aurora Rivera-Ibarra
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 4800 block of La Vista Avenue
McAllen Texas, 78501
Hidalgo County
L.E.A McAllen Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding three people who have been identified as suspects in connection to a deadly weekend home invasion in McAllen. A home invasion off the 4800 block of La Vista Avenue left Arturo Hinojosa and David Means dead on Saturday night. McAllen police reported on Tuesday morning that three suspects have been identified. Investigators are looking for 23-year-old Joseph Espinoza on murder and aggravated robbery charges. Espinoza was last seen driving a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe. McAllen police also reported that 23-year-old Hector Nicolas Medina-Castillo is also wanted on murder and possession of marijuana charges. A third suspect identified as 23-year-old Luz Aurora Rivera-Ibarra is wanted on a possession of marijuana charge. Investigators say two more suspects only known by their nicknames "El Cholo" and "Boxer" still need to be identified. Anyone with information about the suspects or the case is asked to call McAllen Crime Stoppers at (956) 687-TIPS or (956) 687-8477
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: June 16, 2011
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Roman Ramirez Jr.
Age 22
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Starr County
L.E.A Starr County Sheriff's Office

Cold Case Spotlight

Investigators with the Starr County Special Crimes unit worked lead after lead trying to figure out who murdered Roman Ramirez, Jr. But starting with the New Year, those leads have gone cold. Investigators told Action 4 News that its TMs been a seven long months of chasing leads that went nowhere. Months of unanswered questions have also taken their toll on the family. Ramirez was shot and left for dead on the side of La Blanca Road in the Guerra Garza Subdivision on a sunny June 2011 afternoon. Investigators said it was an area that Ramirez would frequently travel walking up and down La Blanca Road. They said with no witnesses coming forward, their investigation has come to a standstill. Authorities are hoping a cash reward will bring someone forward someone who can help bring closure to a grieving family. Starr County Sheriff TMs Office Investigator David Ibarra spoke to Action 4 News about the case. His family reaches out to us on a regular basis, Ibarra said. We’d really like to help them out by putting the person or persons responsible behind bars.”
CCR: 89-12766
Date Reported: August 14, 1989
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Jesus Manuel Gonzalez
Age 28
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Blunt Force
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 1/4 Mile E of FM 3071 on SH 107
Elsa Texas, 78538
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sheriff's Office
CCR: Unknown
Date Reported: July 16, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Nahomi Rodriguez
Age 19
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 602 N. 77
Sunshine Strip Harlingen, Texas, 78550
Cameron
L.E.A Harlingen Police Department

Cold Case Spotlight

On July 16, 2017, Nahomi Rodriguez, a 19-year old, went missing from McDonald’s in Harlingen, Texas. She was last seen alive entering a light colored early 2000s Ford Escape on surveillance video outside her work at a McDonald’s in Harlingen in July 2016. About one year later her skeletal remains were found in Rio Hondo in April 2017. Investigators believe that the same person and vehicle are captured on video from a camera inside the fast food restaurant. A man in a white cap with a black shirt pulls up to the drive-through window. Nahomi can be seen giving the unknown man a fist-punch. The Harlingen police department, law enforcement partners, and community partners are offering $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Naomi's disappearance and death.
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: 15-48120
Date Reported: December 2, 2015
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Patricia Aevedo Chavez
Gender Female
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 12927 Santawan
Mercedes Texas, 78570
Hidalgo
L.E.A Hidalgo Co. Sherriff's Office
Patricia A. Chavez was fatally shot in her home on December 2nd, 2015 at approximately 8:50 pm in Mercedes, Texas.
CCR: 17-18620
Date Reported: May 8, 2017
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Anastacio Rocha Jr.
Age 37
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Juan David Garcia
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
CASE DETAILS
Status Arrest Made
Incident location 3898 Gladiola Dr
Edinburg Texas, 78539
Hidalgo
L.E.A HCSO

Cold Case Spotlight

Friends found a 37-year-old San Carlos man dead late Monday night northwest of Edinburg. Family members called the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at about 7:30 p.m. Monday to report Anastacio Rocha, 37, of San Carlos hadn’t returned home, said Sheriff Eddie Guerra. They also called OnStar, the vehicle tracking and roadside assistance service, which provided a GPS location for Rocha’s car. Four friends went to the location near Big Five Road and Mile 14, where they found Rocha dead in the car, Guerra said. Investigators haven’t said where, exactly, Rochas was located in the car when they found him. Investigators determined Rocha suffered what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head, Guerra said. The Sheriff’s Office is treating Rocha’s death as a homicide.
CCR: 01-7299
Date Reported: April 8, 2001
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Caucasian/White
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location 3 1/2 West Road and 19 North Road
Elsa Tx , 78543
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office
CCR: Unknown
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Juan Elias Ramirez
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name "Border Bandits"
Offense Murder
Cause Gun/Firearm
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location Brownsville Texas, 78520
Cameron
L.E.A Brownsville Police Dept.

Cold Case Spotlight

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The murder of a small business owner believed to have been robbed and killed by the “border bandits,” remains unsolved 28 years later. On March 26, 1993, at around 8 a.m., the body of Juan Elias Ramirez was found by the Brownsville Public Utilities water plant. Juan Elias Ramirez was the owner of a local store that was known for selling sodas and chips in Matamoros. Ramirez’s body was discovered with a single gunshot in the back, authorities believe that the gun was a 9mm handgun. Officials told reporters there were signs of robbery. Additionally, investigators reported to the Valley Morning Star there were indications that Ramirez’s murder was connected to the “Border Bandits.” Ramirez was considered the second victim to be killed by the so-called “border bandits” within the same two-weeks. However, no substantial leads or information was revealed, according to the Cameron County Sheriffs Office. 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: 97-14339
Date Reported: September 18, 1997
VICTIM DETAILS
Name Unknown
Gender Male
Race Hispanic/Latino
SUSPECT DETAILS
Name Unknown
Offense Murder
Cause Unknown
Location Unknown
CASE DETAILS
Status Unsolved
Incident location East of FM 1423
Donna Tx, 78537
L.E.A Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office