San Marcos Record, San Marcos, TX

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November 4, 2009

Officials hope to heat up cold case

By Anita Miller

San Marcos — It’s been 19 years since the grisly discovery, when deer hunters at a camp just west of San Marcos found a woman’s body.

Because she was clad in shorts and a T-shirt and wearing several pieces of jewelry, detectives with the Hays County Sheriff’s Department immediately knew two things: The woman was likely killed before a cold front had blown in overnight, and the motive for her slaying wasn’t robbery.

There was no identification to be found, and it wasn’t until the next day — Nov. 5, 1990 — that the body was identified as that of 20-year-old Jeanette Rincon of New Braunfels, who had been employed by that city’s parks and recreation department and was last seen by her parents the day before her body was found.

The case is one of the oldest, and coldest, the HCSO is still investigating. And it’s even more problematic because Rincon’s stepfather Baudelio Rogelio Medina, who is now 50, was charged with capital murder but has eluded capture.

County investigators “have stayed involved in this investigation, but attempts to find Medina have been unsuccessful,” says department spokesman Sgt. Leroy Opiela. “We really think this guy is still around, maybe not here but maybe in Comal County or Guadalupe County.”

He added it’s possible Medina is being shielded by family.

All that and more was due for discussion this afternoon at a press conference called to coincide with the 19th anniversary of the discovery of Rincon’s body.

The gist of the conference, Opiela said, is to call attention to the case and enlist the help of the media and the public in bringing it to a conclusion.

Authorities never disclosed the exact location where her body was found, but then-Sheriff Paul Hastings said it was easily accessible by someone who might not know all the back roads.

Because heavy rains had come with the overnight cold front, investigators at the time weren’t sure whether she had been slain where she was found or elsewhere — though the position of the body and still-visible tire tracks seemed to indicate she had been dumped.

They did, however, determine that her death was violent — an autopsy revealed she was strangled with enough force to break a bone in her neck.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the HCSO at 393-7800. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 324-TIPS toll free from anywhere.

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