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 car was left abandoned and there was bodies scattered everywhere, said Volkmann. Austin Monthly Austin Home Newsletters. It appeared the man had been dragged outside of the club, possibly by a worker who had been cleaning up for the night. He had a healed injury to his nose and he was likely of muscular build, with a height between 5'2" and 5'5". And the description the boy gave to authorities, wasnt too unusual in this rural county. 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. On October 10, 1987, the decomposed body of a young white male was found in a field in an unincorporated area of Tarrant County, Texas, close to Benbrook Lake. He died between a month and a year before, as a result of homicidal violence. The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office in the primary department investigating this unsolved crime. [36] She was estimated to be between 17 and 30 years old, was approximately 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 111 pounds. x. Further examination revealed that he had been killed within an hour of his family. Name: Unknown: Gender: Male: Race: Hispanic/Latino: She was between 18 and 25, standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall. 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. Several people were brought in for questioning. The area in which her body was found was a spot typically used for tractor-trailers to park. Volkmann said he believes there were two killers, not one like originally believed by investigators. It wasn't expected to be a difficult journey. Long said he hoped to one day get answers to what happened in that West Texas field. [15], A young man and woman who were found in January 1981. 1:25 PM Apr 26, 2021 CDT, Billboards will be placed at up to 32 locations in the Greater Houston area as part of the Montgomery County effort. 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. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. Sanchez had been a long time person of interest in the case, but officers initially did not have enough evidence to charge him. It had been worked to exhaustion, he said. Her sister-in-law's body was in some brush a few feet away. While many of the murders that take place in the Rio Grande Valley are quickly ", "40 years after Houston serial killings, one victim still unidentified", "Case 73-3356: Office of the Medical Examiner of Harris County", "Murder Mystery: Houston Serial Killer 'Candy Man's' Last Victim Still Not Identified", "Cold cases: Details on 28 cold murder cases from 1952 to 1999", "An unsolved murder from the 1980s stirs Houston cold case investigators", "Kendall County Jane Doe Discovered On March 6, 2010", "Woman's body found buried on South Padre Island", "FBI hopes 3D facial reconstruction will help ID slain woman", "Authorities still searching for ID on woman found dead on Islan", National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Unidentified decedents in the United States, Unidentified murder victims in the United States, article "List of unidentified murder victims in Texas" is from Wikipedia, Edithistory:List of unidentified murder victims in Texas, List of unidentified decedents in Washington, List of unidentified murder victims in Illinois, List of unidentified murder victims in Michigan, List of unidentified murder victims in Pennsylvania, List of assassinations and acts of terrorism against Americans, List of unidentified decedents in Florida, https://en.everybodywiki.com/index.php?title=List_of_unidentified_murder_victims_in_Texas&oldid=2104449, Pages with citations using unsupported parameters, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Portal templates with all redlinked portals, Commons category link is on Wikidata using P373. His weight and eye color could not be ascertained, as various foraging animals had caused extensive damage to the body. A mile-long stretch of U.S. Highway 277 became a killing field, with family members shot, stabbed, raped and robbed. 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. A stack of papers with sports scores found in the house led them to wonder whether Keith has been in gambling debts. Four earrings were found in each ear; a ring with a clear stone, a ring without a stone, a silver chain, and two gold-colored necklaces were also found. I do believe that he saw his family killed, said Volkmann. But he could provide little help, even after questioning under hypnosis. Investigators believe that the skull belonged to the unidentified woman, however when DNA testing was done on the skull in 2015, it was determined that it belonged to a different person. 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. 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. Although one of the investigators spoke Spanish to the little boy, Volkmann still believes a language barrier may have misled investigators on other leads. The car was found about eight miles south of the bodies, still with a flat tire. 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. Manuel Jr. survived, and underwent multiple brain surgeries. Although there was no clothing on the body, a pair of underwear and a hat were nearby. WebA white or Hispanic male between 15 and 18 years old was found buried in a Harris County boat shed in August 1973. The lead investigator at the time, Ranger A.Y. So was her brother, Manuel Jr., also shot in the head and stabbed. All rights reserved Bugged Space 2019-2022, Meet Zaevion Dobson; Who Died While Shielding Teenage Girls From Bullets. A man connected to the case, still living in Edwards County, but Volkmann said DNA tests were inconclusive. Please contact the Del Rio Police Department at (830) 309-8770 and (830) 313-1593. He was found wearing a blue polo shirt with an Exxon logo on the sleeve, blue jeans, a brown/black belt with a silver buckle, and blue sneakers. On January 19, 2022, at about 6:00 pm, Victor Garcia was taken into custody at the Del Rio Police Department. A mile-long stretch of U.S. Highway 277 became a killing field, with family members shot, stabbed, raped and robbed. Keith had been shot three times, on his skull, the right side of his face, and his left cheek. He had died a day before his body was found abandoned in a culvert. [16], On October 29, 1981, the partial skeletal remains of a teenage, white female were discovered by a TxDOT worker on Farm Route 244 in Grimes County, Texas, just south of Iola. Cause of death was not determined, but is believed to be a homicide, as she was found with her hands bound behind her back. "If anything this case did do, it showed me the importance of how not to quit," Long said. 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. The list of its authors can be seen in its historicaland/or the page Edithistory:List of unidentified murder victims in Texas. 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. They were killed approximately two months earlier and left in Houston. 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. "Initially he was skeptical. Investigators believe that her body was stored in a closet for a few years before moving the body to the location. Login; Del Her hair was black and curly, approximately twenty inches long. WebSome of the unsolved murders in Houston, Texas, include the 1980 double murder of Andrew and Estella Salinas, the 1974 murder of Edward Edd Williams, the 2000 murder It was all kinds of people saying, we think this is who it is, but nothing ever came of it, said Letsinger. Some were recently submitted for DNA testing that wasnt available in the late 1960s and early 70s. The Dardeen family consisted of Russell Keith Dardeen, 29, his wife Rudy Elaine Dardeen, 30, and their 2-year-old son, Peter. DRPD recovered several 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. His wife's body was in a ditch about a mile south. Investigators say that without these two bones, a traditional 3D reconstruction cannot be made. When the tire on their 10-year-old Buick went flat in this rugged, isolated stretch of West Texas about 40 miles north of the Mexican border, it seemed merely an inconvenience for Manuel Arellano and his family. By 1982, the investigation had turned cold after producing thousands of pages of documentation, Long said. According to sources, the young woman was mother to five children. Investigators could not find any extramarital affairs involving either Keith or Elaine, which could have resulted in a jealous rage, nor they could find any grudge or debt troubles. I couldnt give you a numerical value on our chances of solving it, said Sgt. [43]. 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]. The .22-caliber murder weapon never was found. The children were nearer their father, in the rocks and shrubs usually occupied by goats, snakes and armadillos. participated in the fatal shooting of the 11-year-old boy. A man was arrested for the Doe's murder in September, 2007. Investigators said Salmon was stabbed to death in his front yard in 2001, adding that the defendant in the case, Luis Carlos Marez, is currently serving a sentence In all, five people died in what remains Texas' oldest unsolved mass slaying. The Del Rio Police Department is asking the public for assistance in the arrest of Victor Garcia. The man had been shot to death with a small caliber handgun approximately one week prior to the discovery of his body. [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. On October 25, 1992, police officers found the body of a Hispanic male outside of a club in Fort Worth, Texas. A memorial stands today near the Dry Devils River Bridge, the only reminder of the horrors that happened along the roadway. Latest Breaking news from Del Rio & Eagle Pass, Texas! Keiths mother discarded his claims and said Keith was far too protective of his family to do such a thing. [52] She was clothed, wearing a dark top, multicolored shorts with star decorations and bikini underwear, along with a sanitary pad. Henry Lee Lucas claimed to have been responsible for the murder, however his confession is not considered to be plausible. A necklace with an arrowhead and turquoise stone design was also found on the girl's neck. Her sister-in-laws body was in some brush a few feet away. There were over fourteen hundred murders in Texas in 2017. Prior to this position, she covered upstream oil and gas news for a drilling contractors' association. Sexual assault was secondary, thirdly would have been theft," said Long, referring to the rape of at least one of the women. In all, five people died in what remains Texas' oldest unsolved mass slaying. But, for Edwards County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Darrell Volkmann, this one is haunting. 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She was believed to have been native to Florida, her first name reported to possibly be Norma. The tattoos were described to be of poor quality. The veteran law enforcement officers said the crime scene photos of children shot in the head is hard to forget. In 1986, Keith purchased a trailer after completing the training required for his job as a treatment plant operator. [8], He had received good dental care, and had never received any teeth fillings in his lifetime. But he could provide little help, even after questioning under hypnosis. As of January 22, 2021 it was announced that Live Oak Doe has been identified. [42], On September 17, 1990, the body of a middle aged white/Hispanic man was found about five miles north of Roscoe, Texas, and about a mile north of Interstate 20 in rural Nolan County, Texas. The longer it gets, the colder it gets.. Example video title will go here for this video. Long looked for two years for the old Buick, finally convincing himself it was destroyed in a salvage yard. After the man was killed, it appeared that he was tied to two cinder blocks with an electrical cord and then deposited in the lake. She was middle-aged, approximately forty-two to fifty-five, at the time of death. She was found to be wearing braces. She was also wearing a square or rectangular pendent necklace with a smokey blue or brown stone. He gave statements, but nothing matched the evidence. 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. By daybreak, though, the family was dead. On November 18, 2001, a newborn female infant of indeterminate race was found by a man picking up cans in Johnson County, Texas. The woman identified as Amanda Riojas, 27, was declared dead at the Hospital. "You can only imagine what went through this gentleman's mind," Long said. He had received multiple stab wounds, both his hands had been removed and he had received extensive trauma to the face. 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. 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. I'm sure that if you would have shot two of his children, he would have fought, like an animal, he added. Initially he was skeptical. It was a horrible crime.. 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. It is unknown how both victims were placed at the scene. We came to realize this is a case that needs to be looked at again. Investigators believe she had been murdered. That's how it stayed until 1999, when a caller told the Texas Department of Public Safety he knew the identity of the killer. 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. 3 Steve Berg dies, NEWS Council approves hiring aviation consultants, NEWS Former mayor comments to council about airlines. The decomposed remains of a Hispanic woman were found on a beach, scavenged by coyotes, on October 10, 2012, in South Padre Island, Cameron County, Texas. The investigation has taken Long all over the country and to Mexico, where he found Manuel Jr. Keiths car was found parked outside a police station in Benton, around 11 miles away from his family house. Photographs were taken of the bones prior to her burial, though. An alleged suspect identified as Robert Evans Jr was arrested and remains in custody on a murder charge with a $500,000 bond. Victor Garcia has not been located and his arrest is imminent. [41] The woman had been shot at close range in the head. 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. She had died between one year and a decade prior to the discovery. A pair of athletic shoes and an unfired .32 caliber cartridge were also found with the body. 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. As another year passes, and another year the case gets colder, Volkmann still sorts through all the nearly dozen binders of evidence. "I couldn't give you a numerical value on our chances of solving it," said Sgt. 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