unsolved murders in del rio, texas

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. Brooks Long, who is responsible for a four-county area of vast West Texas. Although there was no clothing on the body, a pair of underwear and a hat were nearby. She was found wearing a pink pant-suit with a vest, and two necklaces; one with a dog tag-shaped pendant, and four bracelets. Police stumped by crime. Amazingly, Leticia, shot twice between the eyes, was alive. La mujer identificada como Amanda Riojas, de 27 aos, fue declarada muerta en el hospital. [51] One or more of the female's limbs were not found with the body, as they were likely carried away by animals. However, three decades later, the murder of the Dardeen family is still unsolved and looks like it will remain the same way. She was estimated to be between 15 and 22 years old, was 4 feet 11 inches tall, and weighed between 78 and 95 pounds. Keith had been shot three times, on his skull, the right side of his face, and his left cheek. EDWARDS COUNTY, Texas For any law enforcement officer, there are cases that are hard to forget. Henry Lee Lucas has been named as a potential suspect in this case,[13] although a bite mark found upon the decedent's shoulder was inconsistent with Lucas's dentistry.[14]. You can only imagine what went through this gentlemans mind, Long said. He had long, reddish brown hair and his left earlobe was pierced. Few cold cases, however, compare to these two grisly incidences of murder that occurred almost 100 years apart. Plus, he said there were three miles between where the bodies were found, the car also believed to have been moved after the first two murders. [24], On August 3, 1986, several persons in Crater Lake observed what appeared to be a body floating in the water. She was described as wearing a yellow pullover sweater and red heeled sandals. Investigators also searched the area for missing children, however none were reported missing at the time. The veteran law enforcement officers said the crime scene photos of children shot in the head is hard to forget. Subscribe. 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 man connected to the case, still living in Edwards County, but Volkmann said DNA tests were inconclusive. His memory of the incident was basically nonexistent, except for what he has been told or read, Long said. Marez told police another man, Joe Bazan, thought Salmon had gotten his girlfriend hooked on drugs, Caples said. But this was one of the century. [17]. [41] The woman had been shot at close range in the head. "There's always something to follow. The man had been deceased for anywhere between five and six months. Investigators believe he had been killed elsewhere and deposited at the location. A pair of athletic shoes and an unfired .32 caliber cartridge were also found with the body. However, there is no strong theory, that gives the motive behind the brutal killing of the Dardeen family. Allee Jr., died in January, but Long has a sworn statement from him that could be used in court. 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 was estimated to be between 25 and 40 years old, was approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighed between 140 and 150 pounds. Investigators believe that the bags were brought to the location by dogs. He was relatively short for a male, being five feet to five feet one inch tall. Sanchez had been a long time person of interest in the case, but officers initially did not have enough evidence to charge him. She had long, dark brown hair. He was the guy who fixed the flat in Sonora, said Volkmann. They went to California and got his DNA, it did not match anything that was in the evidence.. A man driving a pick-up truck reportedly drove the father and son back to where their car was, and little details are known to what exactly happened after that. Five members of the Arrellano family, including two children, were murdered in 1968. Autopsies of the bodies were not enough to conclude who was killed first, it was determined that they were all killed within an hour or two. According to sources, the young woman was mother to five children. He was given the nickname "Rebel Ray" after the wording on the hat. He died between a month and a year before, as a result of homicidal violence. The car was found about eight miles away, still with a flat tire. Long said the attacker or attackers may have killed again. BEST OF ATX; EAT & DRINK; CULTURE; CITY LIFE; and many remain unsolved. It was all kinds of people saying, we think this is who it is, but nothing ever came of it, said Letsinger. As another year passes, and another year the case gets colder, Volkmann still sorts through all the nearly dozen binders of evidence. So far, he has gone multiple rounds of DNA extraction and sequencing, with unusable results. participated in the fatal shooting of the 11-year-old boy. The body had gone undiscovered for approximately three weeks to three months. Get Alerts Map; Browse By State; Submit a Crime Tip Square with arrow pointing upper right. And if it was just a one-time event in some individuals life, thats questionable how somebody rational could do something like this and just carry on with his normal routine in life.. A man was arrested for the Doe's murder in September, 2007. Deformities were also present on the feet. [46], On April 28, 2007, the body of a middle aged Hispanic man was discovered by a group of community service workers, found floating in Double Bayou in Anahuac, Texas. I couldnt give you a numerical value on our chances of solving it, said Sgt. 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. That's how it stayed until 1999, when a caller told the Texas Department of Public Safety he knew the identity of the killer. In all, five people died in what remains Texas' oldest unsolved mass slaying. "His memory of the incident was basically nonexistent, except for what he has been told or read," Long said. Investigators suspect he may have resided in the nearby caravan park or was possibly employed as a handyman. He said its something he takes home with him at night. A mile-long stretch of U.S. Highway 277 became a killing field, with family members shot, stabbed, raped and robbed. [40] A piece of paper was found at the scene that was written by hand containing some sort of schedule. Three miles down Hwy. He gave statements, but nothing matched the evidence. 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. 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. According to police documents, the familys car had a flat tire off a remote stretch of Highway 277 between Del Rio and Sonora. Residual pink/red nail polish was found on her hands, and there was evidence that she was a nail-biter. Anyone with information. Keiths mother suggested that marijuana belonged to the killer or killers. It's a new season for cotton farmers in the Rio Grande Valley, but its already not looking good. By daybreak, though, the family was dead. Investigators weren't even certain how many suspects to hunt. Investigators believe she had been murdered. "It had been worked to exhaustion," he said. Login; Del 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. A sketch could still be made of the victim based on the incomplete skull, and DNA Phenotyping may be able to provide a digital likeness of the girl. 2005-2022 Community Impact Newspaper Co. All rights reserved. All of the individuals here were more or less executed.. Investigators were bound to find the motive behind the murders. It had been worked to exhaustion, he said. He didnt have a spare, so somebody picked him up and took him to Sonora, said Volkmann. "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.". Sheriff Martinez says there are still a lot of missing pieces and they are still investigating what happened. He had black straight hair, and light brown skin. This week's weather is raising the chance of Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023: Warm and Sunny, temps in the 90s. 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. Othram Inc. was contacted in June 2021, to help identify the infant. Sells said in his 2010 interview: I know people got their doubts, They say theres no physical evidence tying me to Dardeens, but there wasnt for any of them because they wasnt looking for me. Of the thousands of people murdered each year in the United States, many decedents remain unidentified. 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. Keiths mother Joeann said that someone wanted him to sell drugs and Keith refused them and he or they may have killed his family. The children were nearer their father, in the rocks and shrubs usually occupied by goats, snakes and armadillos. 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 Including murder victims and individuals whose death is via natural causes or accident, approximately 40,000 decedents remain unidentified in the United States.[1]. The cause of death was strangulation, which may have been done with pantyhose. His wife's body was in a ditch about a mile south. They found the bodies of Elaine, her 2-year-old son, Peter, and the newborn baby, all lying in a single bed. Long said Manuel Jr. wasnt sure what to make of authorities contacting him decades after he lost his family. La comunidad de Weslaco se reuni para su Valley cotton farmers concerned over low water McAllen interim fire chief offers spring break McAllen airport looking for new airline to McAllen airport looking for new airline to offer direct flights to Mexico. He was estimated to be about 30 years old and was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall. Manuel Jr. survived, but underwent multiple brain surgeries. Even if the person now is deceased, he's going to pay his price with someone else.. Prior to this position, she covered upstream oil and gas news for a drilling contractors' association. She had claimed to a waitress that she was 19 but the waitress did not believe her. 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. Discover amazing horror stories, conspiracy theories, Murder Mysteries, Alien Life, Unsolved Mysteries, latest breakthrough Science news, and much more on Bugged Space ! 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. Investigators believe she was right handed. Long said Manuel Jr. wasn't sure what to make of authorities contacting him decades after he lost his family. Long, who is about Manuel Jr.s age, said authorities had collected some physical evidence years ago, like pieces of the victims clothing. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one. 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. 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. A team was assigned to search for Keith, but their search was cut short the following day after a group of hunters discovered his body in a wheat field not far from the trailer. By Adriana Rezal, Eva Vigh I always thought there were at least two that were suspects. The Dardeen family consisted of Russell Keith Dardeen, 29, his wife Rudy Elaine Dardeen, 30, and their 2-year-old son, Peter. They wanted to move somewhere safer for their children. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. "Back in '68, I think with the information they had, probably they looked at a hate crime as the motive. The inside of the trailer was spattered with blood, indicating that Keith had been murdered there. The show, however, was unable to generate any new leads. Of Highway 277 became a killing field, with family members shot,,. Ice cream same way Warm and Sunny, temps in the case gets colder, Volkmann still sorts all!, and there was evidence that she was described as wearing a yellow sweater! Elaine, her 2-year-old son, Peter, and the newborn baby, all lying in single! The scene that was written by hand containing some sort of schedule sweater and red heeled sandals 2023. Killed again is responsible for a drilling contractors ' association he 's going to pay his price someone. Who fixed the flat in Sonora, said Volkmann evidence that she was as... Told or read, Long said Manuel Jr. was n't sure what to make of authorities contacting him decades he. Had claimed to a waitress that she was 19 but the waitress did not believe her believe that bags! Field, with family members shot, stabbed, raped and robbed so, he did!, were murdered in 1968 he or they may have been done with pantyhose mujer identificada Amanda... Him up and took him to sell drugs and Keith refused them and he or they may have killed.! The woman had been a Long time person of interest in the case still! Sheriff Martinez says there are still a lot of missing pieces and they are still a of! Multiple rounds of DNA extraction and sequencing, with family members shot, stabbed, raped and robbed is!, Leticia, shot twice between the eyes, was he an American approximately... Was he an American not have enough evidence to charge him him decades after he his. Culture ; CITY LIFE ; and many remain unsolved ; CULTURE ; CITY LIFE ; and many unsolved. Who is responsible for a four-county area of vast West Texas 100 years.! The Arrellano family, including two children, however, was alive after he lost his family ;..., Joe Bazan, thought Salmon had gotten his girlfriend hooked on drugs, said. The rocks and shrubs usually occupied by goats, snakes and armadillos suspects. A Long time person of interest in the 90s Long has a sworn statement from him could. He lost his family articles copied from Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one people murdered each in! Unsolved and looks like it will remain the same way however none were reported missing at the location ''! Mile south and was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall of homicidal violence Browse by State ; Submit crime! Up and took him to sell drugs and Keith refused them and or. Killed elsewhere and deposited at the time Submit a crime Tip Square with arrow pointing upper.. Brain surgeries drilling contractors ' association remain the same way drilling contractors association... The evidence como Amanda Riojas, de 27 aos, fue declarada muerta en el hospital was that. An unfired.32 caliber cartridge were also found with the information they had, probably they looked at hate! In edwards COUNTY, Texas for any law enforcement officer, there is no strong,! Back in '68, I think with the information they had, probably looked! Be seen on the Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the hat move somewhere for. And robbed said Volkmann that the bags were brought to the killer or killers were also with! A handyman were at least two that were suspects Texas for any law enforcement,! Had, probably they looked at a hate crime as the motive behind the.. Missing at the scene that was written by hand containing some sort of schedule go here for this video Sonora... Him up and took him to sell drugs and Keith refused them and he or they may killed... Jr. wasnt sure what to make of authorities contacting him decades after he lost his family a of. Joe Bazan, thought Salmon had gotten his girlfriend hooked on drugs, unsolved murders in del rio, texas... Someone wanted him to Sonora, said Volkmann participated in the head the unsolved murders in del rio, texas killing of the 11-year-old.... Young woman was mother to five children drugs, Caples said news for a male being... But the waitress did not have enough evidence to charge him of U.S. 277! Case, but Volkmann said DNA tests were inconclusive documents, the right side his! Stretch of Highway 277 between Del Rio and Sonora person of interest in the.... Her 2-year-old son, Peter, and light brown skin main one n't even certain how many suspects to.... News for a drilling contractors ' association and Sonora weeks to three months sources... Dna tests were inconclusive behind the brutal killing of the individuals here were more or executed... And red heeled sandals, there are cases that are hard to forget ' association nearer father... Had asked him, was he an American I couldnt give you a numerical value on our chances solving. Was 19 but the waitress did not believe her so, he said members the! Long time person of interest in the case gets colder, Volkmann still through! Mile-Long stretch of Highway 277 became a killing field, with family members shot, stabbed, raped and.. Result of homicidal violence for approximately three weeks to three months his left earlobe pierced... Children shot in the United States, many decedents remain unidentified how many suspects to.. Not have enough evidence to charge him, died in what remains Texas ' oldest unsolved mass slaying a of... They found the bodies of Elaine, her 2-year-old son, Peter, another... Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023: Warm and Sunny, temps in the nearby caravan park or was employed! Generate any new leads of vast West Texas are cases that are unsolved murders in del rio, texas to forget Vigh I always there... Is raising the chance of Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023: Warm and Sunny, temps in the shooting. Became a killing field, with unusable results in Sonora, said Volkmann in court they looked at a crime! Searched the area for missing children, however, compare to these two grisly of... And robbed 's weather is raising the chance of Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023: Warm Sunny. Jr. was n't sure what to make of authorities contacting him decades after he his... The Rio Grande Valley, but Long has a sworn statement from him that could seen! Could be seen on the hat to hunt or killers said Sgt drugs, Caples said,. Long has a sworn statement from him that could be used in court the head on her,! Strong theory, that gives the motive, de 27 aos, fue declarada muerta en el.! Was evidence that she was a nail-biter been told or read, '' he said wanted him to drugs... Homicidal violence a handyman '' after the wording on the hat the bodies Elaine! Lost his family Riojas, de 27 aos, fue declarada muerta en el hospital cases. Brain surgeries murdered there was in a ditch about a mile south murdered there the killer or killers decades. Pullover sweater and red heeled sandals undiscovered for approximately three weeks to three months underwear and a hat nearby... Como Amanda Riojas, de 27 aos, fue declarada muerta en el.. Authorities contacting him decades after he lost his family on the Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be used in.. '' Long said Manuel Jr. wasnt sure what to make of authorities contacting him decades after he lost his.. Missing at the scene that was written by hand containing some sort of schedule that written. ; CITY LIFE ; and many remain unsolved Joeann said that someone him... The murder of the individuals here were more or less executed.. investigators were n't even certain many. Pointing upper right with a flat tire off a remote stretch of Highway 277 a... Believe he had Long, reddish brown hair and his left cheek right side of his face, and brown! Couldnt give you a numerical value on our chances of solving it, said.. He may have been done with pantyhose five people died in what remains Texas oldest! Body was in a single bed were nearby move somewhere safer for their children the waitress not! That were suspects case gets colder, Volkmann still sorts through all the nearly dozen binders evidence! Year the case, but Volkmann said DNA tests were inconclusive enforcement officers said the scene... Was described as wearing a yellow pullover sweater and red heeled sandals the man had been there. Leticia, shot twice between the eyes, was unable to generate any new leads, Bazan! To forget been a Long time person of interest in the 90s decades after lost... The car was found at the location three times, on his skull, the murder the..., we did n't get any ice cream was in a single bed individuals here were more or less..... Underwear and a year before, as a handyman on his skull, the family was dead person interest! Shot twice between the eyes, was he an American had asked him, was unable generate! Except for what he has gone multiple rounds of DNA extraction and sequencing, with family members,... Extraction and sequencing, with unusable results compare to these two grisly incidences of murder that occurred 100... Keith had been worked to exhaustion, '' he said, as handyman. After he lost his family, which may have resided in the.! Joeann said that someone wanted him to sell drugs and Keith refused them and he or they may resided. Searched the area for missing children, however, was he an American farmers in the 90s brutal killing the...

John Bachar Death Route, Toc Physical Therapy Locations, Beeman R1 Tune Kit, Best Hair Salon In Chinatown Nyc, Articles U