Williamson County, TX Area Cold Cases
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Name
Samuel JonesAge
55Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Austin police officers responded to the apartment complex at 909 reinli st. On a check welfare call. Upon arrival, officers discovered the decomposed body of a male, later identified as samuel jones. The victim sustained a gunshot wound. The travis county medical examiner’s office ruled this death a homicide.Agency
Austin
Name
Loretta RobertsAge
37Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On july 11, 2006 at 11:27 p.M., the victim was stopped by austin police at rundberg ln. And ih 35 with a known black male and issued citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. The homicide detective assigned to the case was able to confirm this was the last known documented citing of the victim. The victim was last seen wearing a blue tank top, blue shorts, white flip flops, white cross and pink fanny pack around her waist (as shown in the photograph to the left). As the investigation progressed, numerous tips and information was received. Some of the information received was that roberts was known to hang out in the area of rundberg ln. And ih 35. Further investigation determined that several known clients were said to have been aggressive with roberts and with some of the prostitutes working the rundberg ln. Area. This homicide was featured as a crime of the week on local news channels. Flyers were passed out and posters were distributed to generate leads. The case has been ruled a homicide; however, investigators speculate certain evidence could possibly be considered that robert's death was accidental.Agency
Austin
Name
Paula HernandezAge
29Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On monday, august 26, 1996 at about 10:10 p.M. Paula hernandez was driven home from work by her friend, randy salazar. As salazar pulled into hernandez' driveway, an unknown subject fired several shots. Hernandez was struck and fatally wounded. Hernandez was taken by private vehicle to brackenridge hospital where she was pronounced dead. According to the medical examiner's office hernandez was killed by a gunshot wound. Hernandez left behind four children who were 12, 11, 9 and 8 at the time of her death. She had just recently started a new job as a saleswoman at a shoe store. According to family members and friends, hernandez was a lovable people-person and a loving mother.Agency
Austin
Name
Dorian McCorveyAge
21Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Officers responded to a drive by shooting at the intersection of manor and loyola. According to victim and witness statements, dorian mccorvey's vehicle, a burgundy oldsmobile, was traveling westbound on loyola. They were stopped at the traffic light at manor rd in the far left-hand turn lane. The suspect vehicle pulled up to the right side of mccorvey's vehicle and a young male leaned out of the passenger window and shot over the roof of the suspect vehicle. Witnesses reported hearing approximately ten shots. All of the people in mccorvey's car, including mccorvey himself who was the driver were hit. Mccorvey sustained a fatal gun shot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Upon being hit mccorvey lost control of his vehicle and careened across the street and ultimately crashed into a car wash office. The two passengers were transported to brackenridge hospital with gunshot wounds. The suspect vehicle was either a cream or dark colored vehicle that was possibly a cadillacAgency
Austin
Name
Steve LongoriaAge
20Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On march 7, 1993 steve longoria was at his residence with his wife, daughter, mother-in-law and several friends. Someone knocked on the front door and the victim opened the door. The unknown male asked if he was steve and then shot him. The shooter fled on foot.Agency
Austin
Name
Larry FlintAge
35Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Mr. Larry flint was stopped at the intersection riverside and montopolis in the inside of the southbound lanes. He was driving an 1984 oldsmobile cutlass/cierra four door. Flint was the only occupant in the car. Another vehicle pulled next to flint in the outside lane in a unknown smaller vehicle. A black male opened the driver door of the suspect vehicle, leaned out and fired a single shot into flints vehicle. According to witnesses the driver/shooter was the only occupant in the vehicle. After the shooting the suspect fled through a nearby parking lot and proceeded westbound on east riverside drive at a high rate of speed. The suspect is described as: dark complected black male 25-35 year-old 5'7" - 5'8" approximately 180 pounds short black haiAgency
Austin
Name
Juan LaraAge
23Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On april 9, 1987 juan lara was shot and killed between 8:20 and 8:45 p.M. Lara was employed as a cashier at the hillside liquors ii located at the oak hill centre shopping complex. A customer found the victim. There were no signs that a struggle had taken place. There was no money in either of the two cash registers that were on the counter and a handgun that was used for protection was also taken. Detectives believe robbery was a motive.Agency
Austin
Name
Ruth CaseAge
31Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
Ruth helene case was a 30-year-old female. Case was described as a good mother and a good wife. She was also described as reliable and punctual. She was employed by holy cross hospital part-time and worked from 3:00 to 11:00 p.M. She was also a full-time student at acc and attended classes at the ridgeview campus. Allan case, her husband, reported her missing on january 15, 1986 after she failed to pick up their two daughters from school as planned. Her car was found parked in the 2900 block of glen oak street. This would have been less than 100 yards from her last class. Foul play was immediately suspected. Case was last seen alive leaving her chemistry lab class at 11:50 a.M. On january 15th. A search, both aerial and ground, was conducted. On march 21, 1986, officers were summoned to 3402 whitley, which is located in the booker t. Washington housing project. Once there, officers met with a housing authority supervisor. He had discovered a decomposing human body, which was mostly skeletal remains. The remains were identified as ruth case. At the time the skeletal remains were discovered, most of the booker t. Washington projects had been condemned. It was obvious that 3402 whitley had been vacant from some time.Agency
Austin
Name
Ernest Vasquez SrAge
Cause of Death
TraumaInfo
On 04/27/1985 at 7:38am, austin 911 received a call to a man down at 1600 block e. 6th street, north alley. On arrival, the officers found a subject, later identified as ernest vasquez sr., who had been beaten and died as a result of the sustained injuries. Ernest vasquez sr. Was found in the rear of 1612 e. 6th street behind a shed. The witness that called 911 stated to the police that they had noticed the man lying down on the ground unresponsive as they drove through the alley, so they went to the nearest payphone and called the police. Neighbors in the area were interviewed and no one saw, heard, or noticed anything out of the ordinary the night before going into the early morning of the murder. According to the vasquez family it was routine for ernest vasquez sr. To go out on friday night after getting paid and to walk this route if he did not take a cab. Ernest vasquez sr. Did not have his wallet on him when he was found and robbery is the believed motive behind the murder. During the investigation two individuals of interest were identified as possible suspects but there was not enough evidence to charge anyone for the murder of ernest vasquez srAgency
Austin
Name
Esther BrobergAge
35Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On sunday 05/22/1983 at approximately 9:37am austin police officers responded to the scene of a reported deceased person at 2900 e. 12th street, givens park. Softball players arriving at the park discovered the deceased body of a woman lying in a grassy area near the swimming pool. The woman was identified as esther guevera broberg, 35 years of age, and the mother of two daughters. Broberg’s death was ruled as a homicide by the medical examiner’s office. Further investigation determined that esther had been out with friends at a nearby club until the early morning hours of 05/22/83. She was last seen by friends walking in the area of givens park. On 06/09/1983 homicide investigators interviewed a suspect who had been with broberg and some other friends at the club that evening. The suspect confessed to participating in the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of esther broberg along with two other associates. On 06/10/1983 the suspect and his associates were charged with capital murder. The charges against the suspect and his associates were subsequently dismissed due to the suspect being declared mentally incompetent to stand trial. The three suspects were released from custody. In june of 2005 austin police department homicide cold case detectives began reviewing this case. Physical evidence recovered from the original crime scene was resubmitted to the texas department of public safety crime laboratory. Dna analysis positively identified one of the previous suspects to the murder of broberg but did not have enough evidence to include the associates.Agency
Austin
Name
Susan WolfeAge
26Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Susan wolfe was abducted while walking in the 200 block of franklin boulevard. Ms. Wolfe was walking from her residence, 212 franklin st., to a friend's house located at 109 e. 49th street. Wolfe had planned to stay the night with her friend on 49th street due to the fact that her residence had been exterminated for roaches. A witness reported seeing wolfe walking eastbound in the 200 block of franklin blvd. The witness advised that two unknown males, wearing trench coats, kidnapped wolfe. He stated that they forced her inside of a 1971 or 1972 white vinyl / maroon, two door, dodge polara. He reported that the suspect vehicle had major collision damage to passenger door. On january 10, 1980 at 8:34 a.M. While inspecting rental property, a citizen found the partially clothed body of susan wolfe in the south alley of the 2000 block of e. 17th street. Dr. Robert bayardo performed an autopsy on the body of wolfe. It was learned that wolfe had died as the result of a single gunshot wound. There was evidence of sexual assaultAgency
Austin
Name
Debra ReidingAge
18Cause of Death
AsphyxiaInfo
On january 22, 1979 robert reiding arrived home from work and discovered the body of his wife, debra, an 18-yearold female. He found her in bed, under the covers, with a pillow over her head. Since there was not a phone in their apartment, robert went to a pay phone nearby and called the police. Robert and debra were newlyweds and had just recently moved to austin from montana. At the time of her murder, the montana mining restaurant (steakhouse) employed debra.Agency
Austin