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Rocha, Sergio Jan 25 1997; 35 YO Houston TX
Topic Started: Feb 10 2012, 01:41 AM (686 Views)
monkalup
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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Man charged with murder in 1997 disappearance
Thursday, February 09, 2012



HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police believe they have solved a 15-year-old missing person case, and a man has been charged with murder, even though a body has never been found.


Richard Anthony Garza, 35, has been charged with murder, accused of killing of man who disappeared on January 22, 1997.

On January 25, 1997, Sergio Rocha was reported missing and hasn't been seen or heard from since. A Houston police officer investigating the cold case interviewed a woman who said that in 1997 she was living with Garza. She said that one night when she came home, there was a man's body there. Garza reportedly ordered her to clean up some blood as he and another man loaded the body in a truck. They all three reportedly buried him near a ravine.

The woman tried to take police to the location where the body was buried, but they were unable to find anything. A subdivision has since been built in the area.

The woman also told police that Garza told her that he and the other man were beating and strangling the victim. That alleged accomplice has admitted to police some involvement, and said he helped to bury the body because he was afraid of Garza.

Another witness told police the last time he saw Rocha was when they were buying drugs from a man he identified as Garza.

Garza has not yet been arrested on the murder charge, but bail has been set at $50,000.
(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=...ocal&id=8537331
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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monkalup
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://z13.invisionfree.com/PorchlightUSA/...0&#entry9857023
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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monkalup
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
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http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/ar...ion-3190919.php
Man charged in 1997 strangulation
Dale Lezo, Houston Chronicle Copyright 2012 Houston Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Dale Lezon
Updated 11:53 a.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012


A man in federal prison on unrelated charges has been accused of killing another man who went missing from the Houston area and whose body was reportedly buried more than five years ago, according to court records.

Richard Anthony Garza, 35, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Sergio Rocha on Jan. 22, 1997, according to a complaint filed in the case by the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Rocha was reported missing on Jan. 25, 1997.

Garza is currently in the federal prison in Big Spring, but authorities did not release details about why he is in federal custody.

According to the complaint, Garza's ex-girlfriend, who was living with him at the time, said she saw a man's body inside their home in January of that year. She said wire was around the man's neck and his hands and feet were also bound with wire. A garbage bag was over his head.

The complaint states Garza told her that he and another man had beaten and strangled the man. Garza reportedly said he didn't know which of them had killed the man.

She said Garza told her to clean up some blood inside the home. When she was finished, Garza and the other man at the house loaded the body in a Ford Bronco and then disposed of the body at a remote location, according to court documents.

When she later tried to show police offices where the body had been dumped, the body could not be found. Rocha's body has never been recovered.

Police interviewed a man identified by the ex-girlfriend as Garza's accomplice, and he told investigators that he had disposed of the body out of fear, according to the complaint. He said Garza had killed the man. He said he noticed the body had bruises around the neck.

Another witness, the complaint states, told investigators he saw Garza and Roche together when the witness bought drugs from Garza earlier in the day.
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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Ell
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HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police believe they have solved a 15-year-old missing person case, and a man has been charged with murder, even though a body has never been found.



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Richard Anthony Garza, 35, has been charged with murder, accused of killing of man who disappeared on January 22, 1997.

On January 25, 1997, Sergio Rocha was reported missing and hasn't been seen or heard from since. A Houston police officer investigating the cold case interviewed a woman who said that in 1997 she was living with Garza. She said that one night when she came home, there was a man's body there. Garza reportedly ordered her to clean up some blood as he and another man loaded the body in a truck. They all three reportedly buried him near a ravine.

The woman tried to take police to the location where the body was buried, but they were unable to find anything. A subdivision has since been built in the area.

The woman also told police that Garza told her that he and the other man were beating and strangling the victim. That alleged accomplice has admitted to police some involvement, and said he helped to bury the body because he was afraid of Garza.

Another witness told police the last time he saw Rocha was when they were buying drugs from a man he identified as Garza.

Garza has not yet been arrested on the murder charge, but bail has been set at $50,000
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=...ocal&id=8537331
Ell

Only after the last tree has been
cut down;
Only after the last fish has been
caught;
Only after the last river has been
poisoned;
Only then will you realize
that money cannot be eaten.
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