LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – Investigators continue to look into a case that has become one of the top 12 cold cases in Texas.
The case involves a woman found dead near the Rio Grande River in West Laredo. On Monday, June 16, investigators found clues that could help identify the woman and provide her family with closure.
21 years ago, a deceased woman was found by the Laredo Police near Ana Ave., brutally attacked.
According to Luis Mata Jr., an investigator with the Laredo Police Department, “She had signs indicative of a struggle. She had lacerations consistent with stabbing.” He continued, “There were signs of a possible sexual assault, it looked like maybe she had been raped.”
Mata was assigned to the case and believes the crime occurred hours before the authorities arrived. Now, the task is to identify who she was.
“Based on the information that we had and based on the evidence that was there. It was indicative that this female was an immigrant who was crossing the river just based on the features she had and her clothing,” Mata said.
The woman’s body was found in 2004, when the surrounding area was covered in brush, with Mata adding that she was close to a nearby road.
Now, 21 years later, all that remains is a composite sketch, as no identification was found with the woman, who has only been identified as a 20-year-old with gold peace signs on her front teeth.
Mata explains that science has gradually helped solve the case, stating, “With the assistance of DNA genealogy, we were able to identify her as a Central American female from Guatemala or El Salvador, somewhere from that general area.”
Though classified as a cold case, there is still hope for a breakthrough in the investigation that could help identify her and solve her murder, especially now that a new set of eyes is reviewing the case.
Texas Ranger Nathan Mutz has been working the case alongside the LPD since 2020 and states, “Where I come in as a ranger is to take a different look at the lab reports, see what was tested, what wasn’t tested and then, with our SAKI program, we offer resources.”
They believe that advancements in forensic technology can help solve this decades-long mystery with confidence.
When asked what obstacles they have had to face when looking into the case, Mutz responded, “One of the obstacles we have is that we don’t have the identity of the victim, which is what makes this case complex. Here we are, almost 21 years later, and we don’t have any idea who this person was.”
Mutz added, “We still need people to come forward and give us the information that they know. Sometimes it may be something very small in their eyes, but in our eyes, it’s a very big lead, so the main thing is for people to be vocal.”
The case is still under investigation, with authorities hoping to finally identify this Jane Doe and reunite her with loved ones who have wondered about her whereabouts for so many years.
If you have any information about the unidentified woman, you are asked to call Laredo Police at (956) 795-2800.
For more headlines, click here.
Copyright 2025 KGNS. All rights reserved.