Post by HeadMarshal on Apr 5, 2020 11:57:39 GMT -5
Photo Credits: Newspapers.com (Photo is of the victim, Mary Ellen Garcia. No photo is available online of the fugitive suspect, Rafael Reyes Chavez)
Vital Statistics For Rafael Reyes Chavez (According to Fort Worth Cold Case Fugitive Document)
DOB: 05/15/1952
Current Age: 67 (As of April 5, 2020)
Height: 5'9
Weight: 190 lbs
POB: Mexico
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Alias: Rafael Chavez Reyes, Jorge Chavez, "Kung-Fu"
Report: #81392139
Date Of Crime: November 14, 1981
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According to the Fort Worth Cold Case Department, Mary Ellen Garcia was shot to death after a motorist in a stolen vehicle struck her car. The motorist fled the scene but returned minutes later. Mary's body was found in the driveway of her residence.
Newspapers.com archives have some further details. Mary's two adult children, who were 21 and 22-years of age at the time were also shot and wounded.
Reports from 1982 did reference a fugitive suspect that was believed to be hiding out in Mexico. However the reports at the time never specified the fugitive's name.
Comparing the Report # on the Fort Worth Cold Cases website to the Report # on the outstanding warrants document, confirms the report number from Mary's murder matches a fugitive suspect named Rafael Reyes Chavez.
Based on crime location, it is advised to contact the Fort Worth Cold Case Unit at 817-392-4037 to speak with Detective Leah Wagner, or to contact the Cold Case Unit at coldcase@fortworthpd.com if you have any information on the murder of Mary Ellen Garcia, and/or the whereabouts of Rafael Reyes Chavez.
Moderator Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case or a photo of Rafael Reyes Chavez, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
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Thoughts? As of today, April 5, 2020, the murder of Mary Ellen Garcia is still listed as unsolved on the Fort Worth Cold Case website, which also confirms that Rafael Reyes Chavez is still at large. I will include links to both websites to prove that the incident numbers match.
I also want to say that I appreciate that Fort Worth is listing what appears to be a large number of their unsolved homicides online. What I wish they would also do is at the very least mention directly that there is a fugitive suspect wanted in connection with this case. From what I've seen from Newspapers.com reports from the 1980s to early 1990s at least, it was rare that a fugitive suspect's name was actually mentioned in regards to a specific murder case by the local newspaper in Fort Worth.
This may be a longshot to finally apprehended Rafael Reyes Chavez, but I feel we owe it to the family of Mary Garcia to give it a try.
police.fortworthtexas.gov/Get-Involved/cold-cases-1980-1989 (Ctrl + F "Mary Garcia)
police.fortworthtexas.gov/UI/Repository/Documents/ColdCaseOutstanding.pdf (Scroll down to page 52 out of 57)
www.findagrave.com/memorial/100251000/mary-ellen-garcia