Sheriff: Female found in Starr County died of head trauma

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>> Anyone with information about this case is urged to call the Starr County Sheriff’s Office at (956) 487-5571.

NEAR RIO GRANDE CITY — A preliminary autopsy report indicates a female found here Friday died of head trauma, officials said.

Sheriff’s deputies are still trying to identify the badly decomposed corpse, which was found wearing only green and yellow underwear. Starr County Sheriff Rene Fuentes said the female stood about 5 feet 4 inches tall and had long fingernails and long, dark hair.

Investigators believe she died from a gunshot wound to the head.

“It’s also possible that she was hit by a blunt object,” Fuentes said.

An anonymous tip led sheriff’s deputies to the body about 10 a.m. Friday in a grassy, wooded area near the intersection of Doria Street and Garza Boulevard in Las Lomas, just east of Rio Grande City.

Authorities suspect the victim was killed at another location and dragged to the spot where deputies found her.

“Hopefully by the end of the week we’ll have more,” Fuentes said. “Right now we ... have nothing.”

No area residents have been reported missing recently, increasing the challenge of identifying the body, the sheriff said.

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Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.