The Texas Department of Public Safety is offering an increased reward and asking the public’s help to solve the 1996 murder of Juan Leon Laureles, 30, in Brown County, according to a DPS media release.
The DPS is featuring Laureles’ cold case from the Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program in hopes of sparking new investigate leads and bringing attention to it, the DPS said.
The reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the 30-year-old’s death has increased to $6,000 if the tip comes in before the next featured Texas Rangers cold case is announced, the DPS said. A cold case is featured bi-monthly.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about Laureles’ case to come forward.,
The DPS said about 12:30 a.m. on May 10, 1996, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle fire along FM Road 2126. The fire was reported near the railroad crossing/Brownwood Rifle and Pistol Range access road.
Upon arrival, deputies found Laureles’ body by his burning vehicle, a 1988 Ford Thunderbird, the DPS said. He had been shot in the back of the head, and his car had been set on fire.
They also found out his stolen credit card was used at a Bealls Department Store in the area later that day, the DPS said.
Investigators have pursued many leads in the case over the years but haven’t ever made any arrests, the DPS said.
Thirty years later, the Brown County SO and Texas Rangers are appealing to the public for help as they continue actively investigating the murder, the DPS said.
“Authorities believe members of the community have critical information that could solve this case, including details about Laureles’ 1988 Ford Thunderbird or other vehicles traveling in the area on the night of his death,” DPS officials said in the media release.
In addition, investigators are interested in tips about the transactions made on Laureles’ stolen credit card, the DPS said.
Tipsters must provide information to authorities using one of these two methods to be eligible for cash rewards for Laureles’ case:
The Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program helps Texas law enforcement investigate unsolved homicides or violent serial crimes, the DPS said.
“Since there is no statute of limitations for the offense of murder, investigators pursue these cases to a successful resolution or until no viable leads remain,” DPS officials said.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Reward offered in 1996 cold case murder of Texas man
Reporting by Trish Choate, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Trish Choate, Abilene Reporter-News | USA TODAY Network
