Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 6, 1999 Page: 1 of 6
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I279 *??k_ Bindery
. 5p tin'.*''1 Rd
( Zone 1' "I
THURSDAY
WEEKLY EDITION
May 6,1999
86th Year, No. 18
25 cents
49
204
Herald
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Warrant filed for suspect
* Probe continues into
Garciasville murder
OURT OF HONOR
^ The Sheriff's Department
continues to investigate a murder in
a Garciasville grocery parking lot
on Tuesday night, April 27, with a
Mexican national believed to have
been the gunman.
Chief Deputy Rene Fuentes
indicated Tuesday morning that a
warrant has been issued for the
arrest of sergio Garcia Valencia, 21,
a Mexican national who has
4 recently resided in the La Casita
area.
The murder occurred on April 27
at approximately 11:30 p.m. Jose
Guadalupe Ramirez, a 38-year-old
Mexican national from San Miguel
Tamps., Mexico and a temporary
resident of La Casita, was shot and
t killed at the B & J Drive-Thru
Grocery parking lot on FM 1430 in
Garciasville.
Ramirez sustained four bullet
wounds as he was shot once in the
chest and three tim.'.s in the right
side of his head. The shooting
occurred after a brief argument
between him and the assailant.
The victim was pronounced dead
at the scence by Justice of the Peace
Ramon De La Cruz and an autopsy
was ordered. The autopsy was
performed by Dr. Fausto Salinas of
Mission.
Fuentes indicated Monday, "We
found several empty casings. We
think the shots were fired from
fairly close range. We're not sure of
the exact range. We believe a large-
caliber handgun was used."
Fuentes added, 'The motive has
not been determined. There were no
signs of a robbery. There were
several witnesses to the shooting.
The assailant fled in a beige or
white Blazer. Evidence indicates
there was just one attacker."
Sheriff's Department
investigators are looking for a
Mexican national allegedly involved
in the shooting. Mexican
authorities have been requested to
assist in the investigation.
The Sheriff's Department is
continuing to carry out an intensive
probe of the murder. Fuentes
indicated, "A warrant could be
issued later this week."
Any person with information
concerning this murder is
encouraged to contact the Sheriff's
Department at (956) 487-5571. All
information will be kept
confidential.
The homicide was the first to
take place in Starr County thus far
in 1999.
'ft-.
Inquest planned in death
of County Jail inmate
Gebhart retires as Troop 93 Scoutmaster
Boy Scout Troop 93 of Rio Grande City is now under new leadership after 30 years. At a recent BSA Troor
93 Court of Honor, Rev. Jams L. Gebhart presented his shirt, representing 30 years of his leadership oi
BSA Troop of America, to Antonio Olivarez IV, who has now assumed leadership of Troop 93. Rev
Gebhart will continue with the troop as a committeeman. Baptist Ranch Manistry is sponsor of BSA Troop
93. Pictured left to right are Scourtmaster Olivarez and Rev. Gebhart.
Starr suspect faces capital murder
charge in McAllen doctor's slaying
w The Starr County Sheriff's
Department is conducting a close
examination and a systematic
investigation of the suicide of a
federal prison system inmate which
took place early in the afternoon of
Sunday, May 2.
The victim was identified as
Johnny Vasquez, a Hispanic male
™ approximately 30 years of age. The
Sheriffs Department indicated that
the victim, who at his own request
due to being involved in arguments
with other inmates, had been
transferred and at the time of the
incident had been confined to a
single cell.
Chief Deputy Rene Fuentes
indicated Monday that the victim
had been a federal prisoner from
^ Idaho.
The Department stated that the
inmate committed the suicidal act
by using his tennis shoe laces
which he tied to an air conditioner
duct vent ami then about his neck to
strangle himself. Fuentes indicated
that jailers discovered the victim at
approximately 1 p.m. Sunday.
^ Sheriff's deputies and the Stan-
County Emergency Medical Service
(EMS) responded promptlyand
reacted quickly inapplying cardio-
pulmonary resuscitation procedures
and the victim was immediately
transported to Starr County
Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Logan Hernai, who atended to
the victim at Starr County
Memorial Hospital, pronouns
Vasquez dead at 1:24 p.m., less
titan 30 minutes after the discovery
by the jailers.
Justice of the Pcace Salvador
Zarate ordered that an autopsy be
performed. Sheriff Reymundo
Guerra has ordered an inquest,
which is a customary mode of
procedures, under the rule of law, in
such cases. Fuentes indicated that
J.P. Zarate and the District
Attorney's Office will be involved
in the inquest.
District Attorney Heriberto Silva
indicated Tuesday that reports on
the incident wiil be sent to the
Texas Commission on Jail
Standards and the U.S. Marshal's
Service.
Escobares suspect faces
aggravated assault charge
An Escobares man remains
hospitalized in stable condition at a
McAllen hospital as a result of a
shooting in Escobares early
Saturday afternoon.
Roberto Hinojosa, 30, of Los
Escobares was shot once in the
check. At the time of the shooting,
the victim was in a 1984 Chevy
pickup in front of Pintillo Car
Wash where he had an argument
with the suspect. The car wash is
located on U.S. Highway 83.
Shortly after the shooting,
suspect Juan Carlos Hinojosa, a 22-
year-old Los Escobares resident,
surrendered to Sheriff's Department
deputies. He also relinquished a .38
Super handgun that he claimed he
used. Chief Deputy Rene Fuentes
sad, "He turned himself in right
away; he made no effort to flee."
The Sheriff's Department
indicated that the victim drove to
Tilo's Drive Inn and called the
Sheriff's Department. A few
moments later, he was picked up by
Starr County Emergency Medical
Services (EMS).
As of Monday morning, Roberto
Hinojosa remained hospitalized in
stable condition at a McAllen
hospital.
Fuentes declared, "The shot was
fired at petty close range. One shot
was fired. Evidently, an argument
had taken place."
Juan Carlos Hinojosa was
charged with aggravated assault
with a deadly weapon. Bond was set
at $25,000 by Justice of the Peace
Eloy Flores.
The Sheriff's Department is
continuing its investigation into
the shooting. Fuentes indicated that
the case will be presented to a grand
jury in the near future.
One of four men charged in the
November 1998 murder of
Emmanuel Barrera in Roma has
been arrested and charged with
capital murder in the slaying of a
McAllen obstetrician in October
1996.
Hector Garcia, 37, was arrested in
Starr County on Thursday, April 29
and held without bond in the murder
of Dr. Francisco Jusino. The
McAllen Monitor indicated that
Garcia's sister, Jacquelyn De La
Garza, 27, and girlfriend, Ester
Sotello Ruiz, 26, were arraigned
later the same day on criminal
conspiracy charges.
District Attorney Heriberto Silva
noted Tuesday that Garcia is one of
four men charged in the Nov. 17,
1998 murder of Emmanuel Barrera.
When he was arrested a few hours
after Barrera's murder, Garcia stated
that his name was Heriberto Garcia.
Barrera, 34, was shot to death in
the early afternoon of Nov. 17 in
the parking lot of Garza's Drive-In
on U.S. Highway 83 in Roma.
Barrera sustained multiple gunshot
wounds to his body. Hector Garcia
and three other men currently await
trial in Starr County in connection
with that murder.
Silva noted, "We cooperated with
the McAllen Police Deparment. We
indicted him (Garcia) as a habitual
criminal."
The indictment of Garcia as a
habitual criminal, said Silva, is
based on the fact that he faces other
charges in Hidalgo, Bee, Bell and
Brooks Counties. Garcia faces a
burglary charge in Hidalgo County,
a marijuana possession charge in
Brooks County, marijuana and
possession of a prohibited weapon
charges in Bee County, and
possession of marijuana and failure
to appear charges in Bell County.
The failure to appear chare is a
felony.
Silva indicated that the murder
indictment of Garcia charging him
as a habitual criminal is an
"enhanced indictment" which means
that if Garcia is convicted of
Barrera's murder, he will be forced
to serve a minimum of 25 years in
prison.
Jusino was shot to death in front
of a McAllen apartment complex
on Oct. 25, 1996. McAllen
authorities indicated they belie
that Garcia and the two other
individuals were hired by other
persons to help bring about
Jusino's murder. McAllen police
stated that shortly before his death ,
Jusino had received threats m tt r
Mexican family of a "Oman v *
died soon after giving binn
in September 1990.
The defendants' attorney, A!
Alvarez, expressed his conv tior.
that the suspects are innocent.
If convicted by a jury of capita!
murder in the McAllen sleying,
Jusino will either be sentenc. i
death by lethal injection or in
imprisonment.
3 Rabies clinics planned
near Roma in next week
Three clinics are scheduled in the
Roma area during the upcoming
week to give residents an
opportunity to vaccinate their pets
against the deadly rabies virus.
The schedule of clinics is as
follows:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5- Rancho
Nuevo, EI Tigre Exxon, 6 to 7
p.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 8- TCI
Cablevision-Time Warner, 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m.
MONDAY, MAY 10- Rios
Lumber (Guero Rios), 6 to 7 p.m.
The fee is $7.00 per dog or cat
vaccinated. The dog or cat must be
three months of age or older
Anyone seeking more
information should call Margo
Veterinary Clinic at 487-3623,
Roma City Hall at 849-1411.
and/or Americorps members at the
County Extension Office at 487-
2306.
Veterinarian Dr. Roberto S.
Margo emphasize* that residents
should remain vigilant in protecting
their pets against the lethal rabies
virus. He noted that there have been
more than 100 confirmed cases and
one human fatality in Starr County
sincc the outbreak began in
September 1988
Former RGC resident Halekakis honored for lifesaving effort
Fomrer Rio Grande City resident
Heather Halekakis was recently
honored with a proclamation issued
by the City of Conroe commending
her for helping save a construction
worker in Jacksonville, Texas from
a potentially fatal work injury.
Heather's successful efforts
through first aid to spare a
landscaper's life in Jacksonville
earned her the commendation of the
Conroe City Council. The worker
sustained a deep wound in his leg
that occurred due to a tiller machine
accident The worker bled profusely,
but the blood loss was halted
through Heather's prompt, alert,
and efficient application of first aid
techniques..
The Conroe Courier newspaper
noted that Conroe Mayor Carter
Moore presented Heather a
proclamation declaring March 11 as
Heather Halekakis Day in Conroe.
Heather attended school in the
Rio Grande City CISD during the
seventh, eighth and ninth grades,
and also part of the 10th grade. She
was an RGCCISD student from the
fall of 1992 until early 1996. She
graduated from Magnolia High
School, located near Conroe in the
area north of Houston, in 1998.
Heather currently attends college
at Lon Morris College in
Jacksonville, located south of Tyler
in East Texas.
About her Rio Grande City
school career, Halekakis noted to
The Rio Grande Herald, "I was a
cheerleader on the (high school)
varsity squad as a freshman. I was a
PALS Club member, and I
participated in volleyball,
basketball and track at the high
school and junior high. I was also
involved in powerlifting."
A Conroe Courier article by
Geoff Drushcl noted, "Armed with
special first aid training she received
at the Conroe Recreation Center
last year, it didn't take 19-year-old
Heather Halekakis long to spring
into action."
The Courier added, "At least one
construction worker in
Jacksonville, Texas, where Heather
attends college, is glad she did. Her
efforts to save the man's life earned
the praise of the Conroe City
Council on Thursday.
"Conroe Mayor Carter Moore on
Thursday presented Heather with a
proclamation declaring March 11,
1999 as Heather Halekakis Day in
Conroe.
"After the brief ceremony in the
council chambers at City Hall,
Heather said she was shocked that
the council would honor her with
her own day.
'"I was so shocked . It was really
exciting for me,' she said, 'I knew I
was going to get a certificate, but I
didn't know it was going to be a
Heather Day.'"
The Courier noted, "Heather also
was honored by the recreation center
with a plaque recognizing her as
employee of the month for
January."
The incident occurred during
Heather's first semester of classes at
Lon Morris College. The Courier
indicated that Heather is "a musical
theater major with hopes of one day
playing Broadway."
Heather told The Courier that she
was walking to class with two
friends she spotted a man quickly
running from a nearby work site on
the campus. She told the Conroe
newspaper, "He was limping really
bad, and I knew something was
wrong with him."
Because of her Red Cross training
at the recreation center, Heather
maintained composure and was
aware of exactly what needed to be
done.
The Courier noted, "Heather
immediately ran to the man's aid
and discovered a deep gash in the
leg caused by a tiller machine,
"She first asked another man
there to take off his shirt and then
applied it to the injured man's
wound, not only covering the
injury but keeping the blood off of
her at the same time.
"She told one friend to call 9-1-1
and the other to go wait for the
ambulance.
"Heather then got a woman who
was wearing a hair restraint to puil
it off and tie it tightly around the
shirt over the wound.
"This, she said, almost instandy
stopped the blood flow,
"Soon, the ambulance arrived,
and the man was transported to a
nearby hospital where he has since
recovered"
The Conroe City Council
emphasized that without Heather's
poised and effective first aid efforts,
the crisis could have had a
disastrous ending.
The Courier indicated, "Heather
said she intends to return to work at
the recreation center, serving as a
life guard over the summer, as she
did last year."
Heather was an honor graduate of
Magnolia High School in 1998,
She was head cheerleader during her
senior year and was active in
numerous school competitions and
activities. She was also awarded
several scholarships to fuith her
college education.
Heather was awarded scholarships
from Lon Morns College in theater
music and checrleading She also
received several local scholarships,
including the principal's
scholarship, the Magnolia High
School Choir, the Magnolia
Chamber of Commerce and
Southwesterr. Bell
The proclamation by the City o.
Conroe honoring Heather reads as
follows:
"WHEREAS, the ability to save
a life or relieve a person's pain is a
special gift, and, for sorm a
serious responsibility beca
the positions they hold; and
"WHEREAS, the City o
Recreation Department
employees in CPR and etk r t., ■
(See HALEKAKIS, I' tg. 4)
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 6, 1999, newspaper, May 6, 1999; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195703/m1/1/: accessed April 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.