Starr County Special Crimes Unit announced it began investigating cold cases last year, including the 20-year-old unsolved murder of 45-year-old Dario Salmon. Map Browse By State. In 1986, Keith purchased a trailer after completing the training required for his job as a treatment plant operator. He needs answers. But this was one of the century. On April 3, 1970, the partial remains of a young white male were discovered in a drainage culvert in Hewitt, Texas. The man had been shot to death with a small caliber handgun approximately one week prior to the discovery of his body. And as difficult as finding whos responsible might be after 50 years, Volkmann said he still wants to find justice for the only survivor of this vicious crime, and the family left behind. WebThe Great Flatonia Train Robbery by Murray Montgomery 1-14-22; In and Out of the Old Gillespie County Jail by Michael Barr 4-1-21; Chipita's Ghost by Murray Montgomery 12-14-20; Casner Cold Case by Clay Coppedge 7-11-20; How Tascosa Got Boot Hill by Mike Cox 4-8-20; The Great Greyhound Hijacking on Route 66 in 1931 by Mike Cox 1-17-20 These items were found near his body. Along with Arellano, 25, was his wife, Monica, 25; their children, Manuel Jr., 5, Leticia, 2 1/2, Eduardo, 15 months; and Arellano's sister, Rosa Elia, 19. A Texas man accused of murdering and sexually assaulting two San Antonio women, in 2005 and 2011, was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday. "Initially he was skeptical. Former Edwards County Sheriff Don Letsinger was just beginning his career in law enforcement, and remembers the fear that clenched three counties after the murders. Manuel Jr., the only survivor in a vicious crime thats baffled Texas lawmen for over 50 years. Further examination revealed that he had been killed within an hour of his family. From the Val Verde County Sheriffs Office. She was found wearing a pair of Shades brand designer blue jeans, a tan Wrangler brand long sleeve T-shirt, and a pair of white panties. Im not able to sleep at night, sometimes I walk the floor, and I keep playing these photographs in the back of my mind, said Volkmann. It is unknown if the girl had actually been conventionally raped, although she had been viciously sexually assaulted with a large foreign object. He's now about 42 years old, married, a father, and working in the financial industry. On October 25, 1992, police officers found the body of a Hispanic male outside of a club in Fort Worth, Texas. The couple had other relatives in Texas, and their car carried Texas license plates and election stickers promoting a relative running for sheriff in Zavala County. He wore a motorcyclist's jacket and a white and gray striped shirt, along with corduroy jeans, loafers, and a belt with a multi-colored buckle. Investigators believe that she may have been a victim of the infamous I-45 Killer. [52] She was clothed, wearing a dark top, multicolored shorts with star decorations and bikini underwear, along with a sanitary pad. "It seemed like a ghost thing they were talking about, or something like that," said Finegan, whose store is the lone oasis on the winding 90-mile highway between Del Rio and Sonora. She was found to be wearing braces. And the description the boy gave to authorities, wasnt too unusual in this rural county. He was soon buried in a pauper's grave in Rose Hill Cemetery in Cleburne, Texas. Arellano was familiar with the United States, spoke fluent English and had been a migrant farmworker in Iowa. Investigators believe that her body was stored in a closet for a few years before moving the body to the location. Arellano fixed the flat, but had another a few miles farther north. Long said he hoped to one day get answers to what happened in that West Texas field. They found the bodies of Elaine, her 2-year-old son, Peter, and the newborn baby, all lying in a single bed. Several people were brought in for questioning. When her body was found it was determined she had only been dead for several hours. For the victim found in Oklahoma in 1980, see Lime Lady. He also had three tattoos: one on his upper left arm of a cross inside of a heart, one on his left forearm that read "PEACE", and one on his upper right arm that read "BB". He apparently had given the family a ride 30 miles north to the service station before heading back with them to where the car was stranded. I think you have a robbery that kind of gets out of hand that leads to murder and sexual assault.. Long looked for two years for the old Buick, finally convincing himself it was destroyed in a salvage yard. You can only imagine what went through this gentlemans mind, Long said. All of the individuals here were more or less executed.. He was the guy who fixed the flat in Sonora, said Volkmann. He had long, reddish brown hair and his left earlobe was pierced. Three alarm fire forces elders from their four-story apartment building, Wear the Gown: Avoiding dehydration which can have devastating effects, Near 90 Wednesday, chance for severe weather later in the week | FORECAST, 'I was devastated': Portland woman who abandoned car during snowstorm shocked by $787 bill from tow company, Meghan describes anguish about hurtful discussions about son's skin color, 750+ tips received about Boulder party that turned destructive; police want help to ID suspects, With virus aid in sight, Democrats debate filibuster changes. Investigators weren't even certain how many suspects to hunt. Thats how it stayed until 1999, when a caller told the Texas Department of Public Safety he knew the identity of the killer. The car was left abandoned and there was bodies scattered everywhere, said Volkmann. Her body was discovered alongside that of a man who was identified as Thomas Rodriguez, and her death had occurred hours prior to her discovery. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. "There's always something to follow. Duwe, the research analyst, said that among the other notable unsolved killings in the last century were the ax killings of eight people in Villisca, Iowa, in 1912; the deaths of 39 people in a bombing on Wall Street in New York City in 1920; and the gunning down of seven mobsters in Chicago in the St. Valentines Day massacre in 1929. After her body remained unidentified, she was buried in an unmarked grave in a potter's field. The man had been deceased for anywhere between five and six months. Victor Garcia has not been located and his arrest is imminent. She was between five feet and five feet two inches, and weighed approximately 120 to 140 pounds. WebTexas Rangers Unsolved Homicide Website Texas Rangers Top 12 Cold Case Investigations Generally, cases are solved when the offender has been arrested and turned over to the Romeo Sanchez, was accused of stabbing the victim to death while fighting with the victim inside of the bar. Four days later, the man's head was discovered at the same location. Del Rio, Texas On January 18, 2022, at about 1600 hours, the Del Rio Police Department Criminal Investigation Division received information from a person of interest who is possibly connected to the murder of the 11-year-old child. Anyone with information. He had receding dark brown hair with gray roots and brown eyes. He was estimated to be between 35 and 45 years old, was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed between 150 and 165 pounds. She had claimed to a waitress that she was 19 but the waitress did not believe her. That's how it stayed until 1999, when a caller told the Texas Department of Public Safety he knew the identity of the killer. There was a rise in gun sales as well as sales of security systems. Brooks Long, who is responsible for a four-county area of vast West Texas. They were on a real hot track for a while, and it just went cold for some reason or another, said Volkmann. On November 18, 2001, a newborn female infant of indeterminate race was found by a man picking up cans in Johnson County, Texas. By Adriana Rezal, Eva Vigh Keiths mother discarded his claims and said Keith was far too protective of his family to do such a thing. But for this retired San Antonio Police Officer, the 20th investigator in the case, its a mystery Volkmann said hes determined to solve. They relied on a good Samaritan to take them about 30 miles up the lonely road to Sonora to get that tire repaired and return them to their car. He was found wearing a Land's End brand short sleeve, pullover, knit shirt with a white stripe, a Brigade brand plaid, flannel, long sleeve shirt, a pair of blue bikini briefs, Lee brand jeans with a laundry mark reading, "L.P. Brennan 50118", a pair of dark socks, a worn, silver ring with flat blue and red stones and a Kronotron brand gold watch, without the band. 277, they found the bodies of Manuel Sr., his wife, and sister. Deformities were also present on the feet. Harlingen, Texas (KVEO)-Murders that go unsolved are classified as cold cases. It wasnt expected to be a difficult journey. It was a horrible crime.. DRPD detectives executed a search warrant at this persons residence located at the Villas de Val Verde at 1725 FM 2523 in Del Rio, TX. It seemed like a ghost thing they were talking about, or something like that, said Finegan, whose store is the lone oasis on the winding 90-mile highway between Del Rio and Sonora. Letsinger said the Texas Rangers led the investigation for many years, and shortly after they found the little boy, investigators questioned him about what happened. Valley cotton farmers concerned over low water levels, McAllen interim fire chief offers spring break fire safety tips, Capital murder trial for McAllen man accused of killing ex-wife delayed, McAllen airport looking for new airline offer direct flights to Mexico, Hidalgo County district clerk warns residents of jury duty scam, Valley View wins in penalty shootaround 4-3 over Sharyland, RGV Vipers battle, but fall 109-100 to Long Island Nets, UTRGV picks up third win in a row, beat Utah Valley 69-59, Valley teams close out girls basketball season in UIL Regional Semifinals, Pharr Natatorium hosts WAC Swimming & Diving Championships. Arellano was familiar with the United States, spoke fluent English and had been a migrant farm worker in Iowa. And the [37], Approximately eight to ten hours after her death, a Hispanic female was located on Westheimer Street, in Houston, Harris County, Texas on December 29, 1989. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. VAL VERDE COUNTY, Texas Val Verde County Authorities caught up with the man they are calling a person of interest in the murder of a Del Rio mother. The woman wore a white gold ring, a striped blue short skirt, and a flannel jacket, which was also striped. Sexual assault was secondary, thirdly would have been theft, said Long, referring to the rape of at least one of the women. On February 16, 1982, the decomposed and nude remains of a small, young, African American female were discovered on a dirt road in the desert, just outside of Plainview, Texas. [15], A young man and woman who were found in January 1981. They wanted to move somewhere safer for their children. Othram Inc. was contacted in June 2021, to help identify the infant. He had dark brown hair and a possible case of mild spina bifida. He was exhumed in 2015 in order to analyze his DNA and make a forensic reconstruction. There had been 15 homicides in Jefferson County in the previous two years. Her hair was black and curly, approximately twenty inches long. "You can only imagine what went through this gentleman's mind," Long said. DRPD detectives applied for arrest warrants for the offense of Capital Murder on the following suspects: Aldo Esquivel, 18-years-old, and Victor Garcia, 17-years old. [9] DNA testing conducted in 2008 did not match any missing person report. Keith was sexually mutilated, and investigators ruled out sexual motivation. Long said Manuel Jr. wasn't sure what to make of authorities contacting him decades after he lost his family. Los testigos informaron que un hombre conocido, cuyo nombre se proporcion a los oficiales de investigacin, fue el que abri fuego en el lugar. She was between 18 and 25, standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall. While he answered some details correctly, those details could have easily been picked from the media. She was estimated to be between 12 and 16 years old, was approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall, and weighed between 90 and 100 pounds. The bags which contained the man's body parts came from two stores, "Carnival Food Store" and "Fiesta Food Store". She was also found wearing a white blouse with a black and white checkered trim and "Classic Wear" printed on the left pocket, a pair of blue jeans, a pair of white tube socks, a pair of white 'Aerobixx-Traxx' brand hi-top sneakers, and a white 'Sergio Valente Quartz' brand watch with a blue plastic band. COVID origins? After I was able to meet him in person, I think he realized we were for real.. The children were nearer their father, in the rocks and shrubs usually occupied by goats, snakes and armadillos. A memorial stands today near the Dry Devils River Bridge, the only reminder of the horrors that happened along the roadway. Allee Jr., died in January, but Long has a sworn statement from him that could be used in court. [4][5][6] This decedent was between 5 feet 2 and 5 feet 7 inches tall, had dark brown hair, approximately seven inches in length,[7] and is believed to have worn multicolored, striped swim trunks, boots, and a shirt displaying a peace symbol. 3 Steve Berg dies, NEWS Council approves hiring aviation consultants, NEWS Former mayor comments to council about airlines. He was estimated to be about 30 years old and was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall. arrested at his residence located at the Villas De Val Verde, also for the offense of Capital Murder, She continued pressuring the authorities to try solving the murders of her son and his family, she gathered more than 3000 signatures in an attempt to get The Oprah Winfrey Show to telecast a segment on the murders, but the producers turned her down, saying the crime was too brutal for the daytime television. Abcarian: Mask mandates? I moved. A man was arrested for the Doe's murder in September, 2007. Keiths parents became concerned and called the sheriffs office and agreed to drive down to Ina with the house key and meet the deputies. Based on information from a Sonora service station attendant who repaired the tire for the family, police distributed a sketch of a possible suspect _ a tall, sandy-haired man in his 30s, wearing a straw cowboy hat, who was accompanying them. According to sources, the young woman was mother to five children. Cause of death was believed to be due to the dismemberment. Investigators believe he had been killed elsewhere and deposited at the location. DRPD Detectives interviewed this individual who provided some insight in the investigation and named two suspects who were allegedly involved in the shooting on San Juan Street in Del Rio. The Orchard Apartment Transcripts from the boys interview outlines the little boys confusion. The woman had been dead from one to several weeks before her remains were discovered. Investigators say that without these two bones, a traditional 3D reconstruction cannot be made. Inside Keiths trailer, police found a small amount of marijuana but never found conclusive evidence that they were a drug dealer. Long believes more than one person was involved in the slayings, which differs from the beliefs of his peers decades ago. The programs primary objective is to He and Elaine rented the land it sat on from a nearby farming couple. The Del Rio Police Department is asking the public for assistance in the arrest of Victor Garcia. And today were on third base.. The lead investigator at the time, Ranger A.Y. But a few years later, a twist in the case. On December 10, 1980, a young African American female was found lying under a mattress, under Interstate 45, about six miles north of downtown Houston, Texas. I couldnt give you a numerical value on our chances of solving it, said Sgt. Volkmann said road crews discovered the massacre that had happened overnight. It's a new season for cotton farmers in the Rio Grande Valley, but its already not looking good. [40] A piece of paper was found at the scene that was written by hand containing some sort of schedule. Some two weeks after his attack, the boy was able to tell authorities about a white man, a big cowboy, who was helping them, then killed his father. An organization in South Padre Island will hold Wednesday, March 1, 2023: Hot and breezy, temps in the 90s, Fire weather watch to go into effect Thursday. She had been dead from anywhere between a few days to over a week. Experience is, definitely you dont do this and stop, he said. A truck driver had seen her body on the north bound side of highway 45 about a mile north of The Hitchin Post truck stop. [38] She was five feet four inches and weighed 161 pounds; she was between nineteen and twenty-five, although she could have been up to thirty-five. He did, however, lift his shirt and show Long the five or six scars from stab wounds he suffered, Long said. Five members of the Arrellano family, including two children, were murdered in 1968. Investigators also searched the area for missing children, however none were reported missing at the time. [39] The victim wore black pants, socks and shoes as well as a white bra, panties and a pullover. Among them is one that occurred two months after the Arellano family slayings in 1968, when a vacationing family of six was killed in a Michigan cabin. If we could find the person that DNA fits, then we will probably have a person that either killed those people or was present, said Don Letsinger, since 1987 the sheriff in Edwards County, where the killings took place. She had been beaten ferociously and as a result, had gone into labor. The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office in the primary department investigating this unsolved crime. They say her body was found in a San Felipe Cemetery Sunday morning and that she had been shot multiple times. Sells was put to death in 2014, and nobody has ever been charged with the murders of the Dardeen family. In 2013, his body was exhumed for DNA analysis. In most of these cases, the murders remain unsolved. I think you have a robbery that kind of gets out of hand that leads to murder and sexual assault.". DRPD recovered several firearms and different types of ammunition which included the same type of ammunition shells found at the crime scene on San Juan Street. Investigators could not find a conclusive cause of death. The man was estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old, was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighed 128 pounds. Long, who is about Manuel Jr.s age, said authorities had collected some physical evidence years ago, like pieces of the victims clothing. Volkmann served as a police officer in San Antonio for over 30 years, and when he took a job in Edwards County, the case was just handed over from the Texas Rangers. Witnesses reported that a known man, whose name was provided to the investigating officers was the one that opened fired at the location. Volkmann said the Arrellano family, Father Manuel, his wife Monica, and his sister Rosa, were traveling from Mexico with the couples three children. Under HB 8, crime labs must test kits within 90 days, and agencies are prohibited from destroying rape kits related to a case that has sat unsolved for up to 40 years. Commander Robert Caples said Marez agreed to talk to police about Salmon's murder. "And if it was just a one-time event in some individual's life, that's questionable how somebody rational could do something like this and just carry on with his normal routine in life.". Austin Monthly Austin Home Newsletters. One time they had asked him, was he an American? He goes, No, we didn't get any ice cream. So, he just didn't understand what they were talking about, said Volkmann. I always thought there were at least two that were suspects. DRPD Detectives conducted additional interviews and discovered Aldo Esquivel and Victor Garcia DRPD, along with the following agencies: Val Verde County Sheriffs Office Investigators, Department of Public Safety CID Agents, Homeland Security Investigation Agents and Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the arrest of Aldo Esquivel at his residence. This page was last edited on 10 October 2021, at 23:52. Hidden in the tall grass, they found a five-year-old boy in a pool of blood, authorities later learned he had been shot and stabbed. Police stumped by crime. "Back in '68, I think with the information they had, probably they looked at a hate crime as the motive. A mile-long stretch of U.S. Highway 277 became a killing field, with family members shot, stabbed, raped and robbed. 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