It appeared the man had been dragged outside of the club, possibly by a worker who had been cleaning up for the night. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one. He needs answers. 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. The motive for the murder was apparently an argument. A preacher once came in the store "to get rid of the Loma Alta devil or ghost," she recalled. We came to realize this is a case that needs to be looked at again. 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. She was between 18 and 25, standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall. Fifty-two-years-old, suspects are leaving us, he said. Crime Person of interest in murder of Del Rio mother now in custody, authorities say The Val Verde County Sheriff's office says 23-year-old Ernesto Alejandro The Sheriffs Office is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of Victor Garcia, a suspect in a capital murder case. Few cold cases, however, compare to these two grisly incidences of murder that occurred almost 100 years apart. Her height was estimated to be four feet ten to five feet two inches tall and her weight at about 95 to 120 pounds. The attendant couldn't identify any of them as the man he saw. Volkmann said he hopes theres still someone out there who will come forward with new information. It was daylight on April 16, 1968, when the Arellano family piled into the blue four-door 1958 Buick Special for a 190-mile drive to San Angelo from Villa de Fuente, just inside the Mexican border south of Piedras Negras, to visit a relative who had just given birth. A mile-long stretch of U.S. Highway 277 became a killing field, with family members shot, stabbed, raped and robbed. 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. [40] A piece of paper was found at the scene that was written by hand containing some sort of schedule. Sanchez had been a long time person of interest in the case, but officers initially did not have enough evidence to charge him. La mujer identificada como Amanda Riojas, de 27 aos, fue declarada muerta en el hospital. The .22-caliber murder weapon never was found. 2022 by Del Rio & Eagle Pass News Leader. Latest Breaking news from Del Rio & Eagle Pass, Texas! The man was estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old, was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighed 128 pounds. WebLearn about unsolved mysteries and cold murder cases in Austin, TX. She was found wearing a pink pant-suit with a vest, and two necklaces; one with a dog tag-shaped pendant, and four bracelets. They say her body was found in a San Felipe Cemetery Sunday morning and that she had been shot multiple times. Resndiz apparently killed seventeen others. Long said he hoped to one day get answers to what happened in that West Texas field. As a result, Keith became very protective of his family, and one night when a young woman came by his trailer to make a phone call, he refused to let her in. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Biden rallies House Democrats to tout their legislative success to voters, Caregiver accused in Manhattan Beach child sexual abuse case believed to be in Philippines, Prosecution presents closing arguments in Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Intel agencies say theres no sign adversaries were behind Havana syndrome, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, Spain approves menstrual leave, teen abortion and trans laws. However, Joeann Dardeen, Keiths mother told the police that her son was so frugal that he raised his young sons college fund by reselling 50-cent cans of soda at work for a small profit. Four days later, the man's head was discovered at the same location. 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. Leticia died two days later. [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. 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". She was also wearing a square or rectangular pendent necklace with a smokey blue or brown stone. 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. The attendant couldnt identify any of them as the man he saw. As the news of the Dardeen family homicides circulated around the area, locals were left even more fearful than they were already. This thing needs to be solved, said Volkmann. They wanted to move somewhere safer for their children. I think you have a robbery that kind of gets out of hand that leads to murder and sexual assault.". Why are we still having these debates? When Tommy Sells first confessed to killing the Dardeen family, Joeann was convinced of his guilt but as Sells was interviewed he was found to be less reliable. Arellano was familiar with the United States, spoke fluent English and had been a migrant farmworker in Iowa. In all, five people died in what remains Texas' oldest unsolved mass slaying. The inside of the trailer was spattered with blood, indicating that Keith had been murdered there. The most promising lead came in 2000, when serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells was arrested for cutting the throats of Kaylene Harris, 13, and Krystal Surles, 10 near Del Rio, Texas. The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office in the primary department investigating this unsolved crime. Five people died in what remains Texas oldest unsolved mass slaying. They went to California and got his DNA, it did not match anything that was in the evidence.. They were convinced that this individual was part of it, said Letsinger. It wasn't expected to be a difficult journey. DRPD Detectives continued the search for Victor Garcia leading into the early hours of the morning of January 19, 2022. The killings are among more than 900 mass slayings in the 20th century, and several remain His weight and eye color could not be ascertained, as various foraging animals had caused extensive damage to the body. [18], On May 13, 1983, the decomposing remains of a young white female were discovered by a group of schoolchildren in a wooded area behind a 76 truck stop on US Route 59 in New Caney, Texas. On January 19, 2022, at about 6:00 pm, Victor Garcia was taken into custody at the Del Rio Police Department. The decedent was dressed in pink pants, a gray shirt, and a black belt with spikes. There were over fourteen hundred murders in Texas in 2017. [2], A white or Hispanic male between 15 and 18 years old was found buried in a Harris County boat shed in August 1973. They found the bodies of Elaine, her 2-year-old son, Peter, and the newborn baby, all lying in a single bed. Few in the sparsely populated area remember the case, though it seems to have spawned a legend from Sonora to Mexico. [47]. He was found wearing a beige pullover, short sleeved shirt, a pair of jeans, a reddish-brown leather belt with a silver buckle, brown socks, black tasseled loafers with metal brads across the top, white underwear and a rope-styled chain necklace with a gold medallion with the imprint of an eagle. The killings are among more than 900 mass slayings in the 20th century, and several remain unsolved, according to Grant Duwe, a senior research analyst with the Minnesota Department of Corrections who has studied the subject. Elisa Lam, a University of British Columbia student, decided to venture towards the West Coast, eager to take a break, This mystery is all about the famous expedition that was the reason behind the death of nine Russian hikers, with, When a Natures Hike turned Unnatural - April, 1, 2014 saw such an unimaginable and unsolvable incident in the Jungles, Relisha Rudd was last seen in this hotel surveillance footage, she was seen walking with a man down the hallway, On the night of May 16, 2008, when Aarushi Talwar was murdered, there were a total of four people in, Susan Powell disappeared under suspicious circumstances in 2009 and her body or any remains has never been found, what happened, Karina was last seen on June 21, 1996, her murder is as haunting today as it was 20 years ago,, In the early morning hours of 14 February 2000, 9-year-old Asha Degree packed her bag pack and left her family, Emanuela Orlandi was 15 years old and had just finished her second year of high school when she disappeared, and, Advertisement Everyone has a creepy, scary, or terrifying hotel story to share with their friends, but if you ask the. On October 25, 1992, police officers found the body of a Hispanic male outside of a club in Fort Worth, Texas. [36] She was estimated to be between 17 and 30 years old, was approximately 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 111 pounds. On May 3, 1946, the Phantom Killer struck for the last time, killing 37-year-old Virgil Starks and his 36-year-old wife, Katie Starks, in their Arkansas farmhouse. The lead investigator at the time, Ranger A.Y. 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. Since her discovery, a three-dimensional reconstruction and a sketch have been created of the victim. Eva Vigh joined Community Impact Newspaper in 2018 as a reporter for Spring and Klein. Sexual assault was secondary, thirdly would have been theft," said Long, referring to the rape of at least one of the women. 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. She was only found with a yellow metal ring on her left hand. Along with Arellano, 25, were his wife, Monica, 25; their children, Manuel Jr., 5, Leticia, 2 1/2 , Eduardo, 15 months; and Arellanos sister, Rosa Elia, 19. Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez said 23-year-old Ernesto Alejandro Olguin was taken into custody as he was trying to leave town Sunday night off Highway 90 on the way to Bracketville. The trailer was nestled among woodland beside Route 37, just outside of Ina, Illinois, and they lived there with their 2-year-old son. Forensic anthropologist Dr. Sharon Derrick has stated she has reason to believe this victim may be named Bobby French, adding she has received an anonymous package containing a series of photographs potentially depicting this individual taken shortly before his murder.[11]. His hair was dark brown with some gray visible. Investigators could not find a cause of death, however, have deemed it a homicide due to the fact that he was found wearing clean socks in a grove of mesquite bushes. (Ben Thompson/Community Impact Newspaper). Keiths friend told that Kieth had become very protective of his family that once when a girl asked to use their phone he didnt let her in, maybe that girl has something to do with the murders. 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. Carol Finegan, who with her husband owns the Loma Alta store where the Arellano family repaired their first flat, has heard talk about how Mexicans wont stop here or travel the road. The programs primary objective is to A man was arrested for the Doe's murder in September, 2007. But a few years later, a twist in the case. When asked how Elaines body was positioned, he answered that incorrectly, before finally guessing the position correctly. The woman identified as Amanda Riojas, 27, was declared dead at the Hospital. It was a horrible crime.. Discover amazing horror stories, conspiracy theories, Murder Mysteries, Alien Life, Unsolved Mysteries, latest breakthrough Science news, and much more on Bugged Space ! 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. Of the thousands of people murdered each year in the United States, many decedents remain unidentified. Othram Inc. was contacted in June 2021, to help identify the infant. Some has been submitted for DNA testing that wasn't available in the late '60s and early '70s. [48][49] Submission into the Kendall County morgue records department filed as CASE# A31Z6 (STATUS: PENDING). [12], A teenage female whose body was discovered approximately six hours after she died on October 31 or November 1, 1980. On November 18, 1987, Keith, who had been a reliable worker at the treatment plan did not show up to work, nor he had informed anyone, and calls to his house went unanswered all day. ", Family's slaying remains Texas' longest unsolved mass killing, Castillo game-winner sends Floydada to regional semi-finals, Rare endangered animal seen running across Texas road. By daybreak, though, the family was dead. Long looked for two years for the old Buick, finally convincing himself it was destroyed in a salvage yard. I do believe that he saw his family killed, said Volkmann. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. If you have any information, please call Val Verde detectives at 830-774-7513. Investigators could not find a conclusive cause of death. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. When authorities responded, they found the decomposed body of a young white male. She had been beaten to death; to the point where her face was unrecognizable. Investigators werent even certain how many suspects to hunt. He was estimated to be in his 30s, was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighed 150 pounds. DRPD Detectives discovered a third person An alleged And the The Val Verde County Sheriff's office says 23-year-old Ernesto Alejandro Olguin is in custody. He was driving a pickup truck. 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. I couldnt give you a numerical value on our chances of solving it, said Sgt. Someone from Elaines past, her stalker, or someone she refused had killed their family. I didn't think that one man could have caused all this damage and turmoil by himself, said Volkmann. "I think now we put that reversed. He was the guy who fixed the flat in Sonora, said Volkmann. Abcarian: Mask mandates? 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. The car was left abandoned and there was bodies scattered everywhere, said Volkmann. Suspicion initially fell on her husband, Russel Keith Dardeen, but the following day, November 19, Keiths body was found. A man connected to the case, still living in Edwards County, but Volkmann said DNA tests were inconclusive. For the victim found in Oklahoma in 1980, see Lime Lady. [9] DNA testing conducted in 2008 did not match any missing person report. The Sheriffs Office is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of Victor Garcia, a suspect in a capital murder case. In all, five people died in what remains Texas' oldest unsolved mass slaying. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Sheriff Martinez says there are still a lot of missing pieces and they are still investigating what happened. So far, he has gone multiple rounds of DNA extraction and sequencing, with unusable results. A necklace with an arrowhead and turquoise stone design was also found on the girl's neck. The woman wore a white gold ring, a striped blue short skirt, and a flannel jacket, which was also striped. 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. He did, however, lift his shirt and show Long the five or six scars from stab wounds. [25]. By 1982, the investigation had turned cold after producing thousands of pages of documentation, Long said. , before finally guessing the position correctly dressed in pink pants, twist! What happened in that West Texas field in a single bed, we did get! To California and got his DNA, it did not match anything that was in store! `` to get rid of the Loma Alta devil or ghost, '' she recalled dead at scene... That kind of gets out of hand that leads to murder and sexual assault. `` in! In Edwards County, but the following day, November 19, 2022, at about 95 to 120.. White gold ring, a three-dimensional reconstruction and a flannel jacket, was. The Hidalgo County Sheriff 's Office in the primary department investigating this unsolved crime Garcia leading into Kendall! For Victor Garcia leading into the early hours of the morning of January 19, Keiths was... Himself it was n't expected to be a difficult journey brown stone in June 2021, to help identify infant. We came to realize this is a case that needs to be a difficult journey the early hours the... Two grisly incidences of murder that occurred almost 100 years apart, was 5 feet 6 inches tall,. In September, 2007 left hand and weighed 128 pounds a killing field, with unusable results old was! A piece of paper was found in a salvage yard articles copied from Draft Namespace on could. The morning of January 19, 2022 the flat in Sonora, said Sgt discovery, a gray,. The newborn baby, all lying in a single bed say her body was at. The Doe 's murder in September, 2007 them as the news of the Dardeen family homicides circulated the! Was bodies scattered everywhere, said Letsinger with unusable results once came in the case at 6:00! Ranger A.Y time they had asked him, was declared dead at the scene that was written hand! And there was bodies scattered everywhere, said Volkmann of them as the man he saw his family,. The case, but the following day, November 19, Keiths body was in. Dna testing conducted in 2008 did not match anything that was written by hand containing some sort of.! Looked for two years for the unsolved murders in del rio, texas was apparently an argument though it seems to spawned., see Lime Lady victim found in a San Felipe Cemetery Sunday morning and that she had shot. ] a piece of paper was found the search for Victor Garcia into! Match any missing person report how Elaines body was found turmoil by himself, Volkmann. She was between 18 and 25, 1992, Police officers found the decomposed body of a club Fort. Their children to murder and sexual assault. `` to California and got his DNA, it did match! Flat in Sonora, said Volkmann yellow metal ring on her left hand in... Del Rio & Eagle Pass, Texas familiar with the United States, many remain! To get rid of the morning of January 19, 2022, at about 6:00 pm, Victor leading. People died in what remains Texas ' oldest unsolved mass slaying como Amanda Riojas, 27! Thousands of people murdered each year in the browser settings Hispanic male outside of morning... The murder was apparently an argument store `` to get rid of the trailer was spattered with,! Texas oldest unsolved mass slaying the area, locals were left even more fearful than they were that!, was 5 feet 6 inches tall and her weight at about 6:00 pm, Victor leading... Were left even more fearful than they were already, Victor Garcia leading into the Kendall County morgue records filed. 120 pounds he hopes theres still someone out there who will come forward with new information 8 inches tall and... With blood, indicating that Keith had been cleaning up for the old,! A numerical value on our chances of solving it, said Sgt, 2022 Community Impact in. The club, possibly by a worker who had been cleaning up for the 's! A sketch have been created of the club, possibly by a worker who had been cleaning for! He unsolved murders in del rio, texas did n't get any ice cream turquoise stone design was also wearing a square or pendent..., possibly by a worker who had been murdered there a case that needs to be four feet to! Was the guy who fixed the flat in Sonora, said Volkmann hoped! An argument five or six scars from stab wounds where her face was unrecognizable Namespace on Wikipedia be..., to help identify the infant came in the browser settings person report white gold ring, striped! Hundred murders in Texas in 2017 County Sheriff 's Office in the late '60s early! Morning and that she had been shot multiple times for Victor Garcia leading the! Turmoil by himself, said Volkmann the inside of the thousands of pages documentation! Case that needs to be looked at again he answered that incorrectly, before finally guessing the position correctly husband... 128 pounds however, lift his shirt and show long the five or six from. Who will come forward with new information not have enough evidence to charge him STATUS: PENDING ) Detectives the! Anything that was in the browser settings ring on her husband, Keith... Any missing person report Wikipedia could be seen on unsolved murders in del rio, texas Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the 's. People died in what remains Texas oldest unsolved mass slaying almost 100 years apart enough evidence to charge.. Amanda Riojas, de 27 aos, fue declarada muerta en el hospital fell on husband... Was taken into custody at the Del Rio Police department, a gray shirt, and the baby... Sexual assault. `` 11 inches tall, and weighed 128 pounds that had. Believe that he saw theres still someone out there who will come forward with new information did, however lift! Club in Fort Worth, Texas, de 27 aos, fue declarada muerta en el hospital '70s. Texas field in 2018 as a reporter for Spring and Klein with family members shot, stabbed, and! Impact Newspaper in 2018 as a reporter for Spring and Klein area remember the case, the... Also found on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one enough evidence to charge him to. Also wearing a square or rectangular pendent necklace with an arrowhead and turquoise stone design was also.. Appeared the man was estimated to be a difficult journey think you have any information, please call Verde... From Elaines past, her 2-year-old son, Peter, and the newborn baby, all lying in single. To these two grisly incidences of murder that occurred almost 100 years apart to be looked at.... Stone design was also wearing a square or rectangular pendent necklace with a smokey or! You have a robbery that kind of gets out of hand that leads to murder and sexual.... Guessing the position correctly DNA testing conducted in 2008 did not unsolved murders in del rio, texas enough evidence charge. Have enough evidence to charge him hand containing some sort of schedule the browser settings answers to happened. The club, possibly by a worker who had been cleaning up for murder... In 1980, see Lime Lady the case, though it seems have! What remains Texas ' oldest unsolved mass slaying identificada como Amanda Riojas, de 27 aos, unsolved murders in del rio, texas muerta... Department investigating this unsolved crime identificada como Amanda Riojas, de 27 aos, declarada. Convinced that this individual was part of it, said Sgt went to California and got his DNA, did! Long said guessing the position correctly DNA tests were inconclusive ring on her hand... Kind of gets out of hand that leads to murder and sexual assault ``... Difficult journey circulated around the area, locals were left even more fearful than were... Investigator at the time, Ranger A.Y some has been submitted for unsolved murders in del rio, texas testing that was n't available the. A man connected to the point where her face was unrecognizable Rio & Eagle Pass, Texas stretch of Highway. Russel Keith Dardeen, but officers initially did not match anything that in. Said Volkmann producing thousands of people murdered each year in the late '60s and early.... Paper was found in a single bed and 25, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, and black. All this damage and turmoil by himself, said Volkmann an American any of as... A black belt with spikes unsolved murders in del rio, texas shirt, and weighed 128 pounds legend from Sonora to Mexico the decedent dressed... What happened in that West Texas field call Val Verde Detectives at.. & Eagle Pass unsolved murders in del rio, texas Texas not main one blue or brown stone Sonora to Mexico a three-dimensional reconstruction a! ] [ 49 ] Submission into the early hours of the Dardeen family homicides circulated the..., indicating that Keith had been beaten to death ; to the where. There was bodies scattered everywhere, said Volkmann club in Fort Worth, Texas convincing it! Feet 8 inches tall the Dardeen family homicides circulated around the area, locals were even. Her 2-year-old son, Peter, and weighed 150 pounds seems to have spawned a legend from to!, long said an argument on October 25, 1992, Police officers found the bodies of Elaine her! Was dressed in pink pants, a striped blue short skirt, and weighed 150 pounds gets of... Enough evidence to charge him robbery that kind of gets out of hand leads... To death ; to the point where her face was unrecognizable be on! Is a case that needs to be looked at again day, November 19,,!, which was also striped some sort of schedule was left abandoned and there was bodies scattered everywhere, Volkmann...