The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is actively soliciting information regarding a double murder case that occurred 45 years ago. Officials are focusing on the tragic killings of 31-year-old Estella Salinas and her 14-year-old son, Andrew Salinas, in Houston, which took place on Christmas Day in 1980.
To encourage leads, the reward for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for these murders has been increased to $6,000. This reward will be available to anyone who provides a tip before the upcoming announcement of the next featured cold case by the Texas Rangers.
On December 25, 1980, the bodies of Estella and Andrew were discovered, having been strangled to death near White Oak Bayou and the Pinemont Bridge, close to the 4500 block of Creekmont Drive. Earlier that same day, they had left their home to visit family at Estella’s parents’ residence across town.
The last known sighting of the mother and son was in a blue 1972 Mercury Cougar, spotted by witnesses at the intersection of Cavalcade Street and the US-59 northbound frontage road in front of a McDonald’s. Family members later located the vehicle abandoned at the intersection of Cavalcade and the Eastex Freeway, with the keys and personal items still inside.
Over the years, multiple witnesses have been interviewed and provided various pieces of information, but no arrests have been made thus far. In a significant development, evidence from the case has recently been submitted for analysis using contemporary DNA technology, offering new hope for resolution.
The Houston Police Department, alongside the Texas Rangers, is diligently investigating the Salinas murders and believes that members of the community possess vital information that could lead to a breakthrough in this case.
Individuals wishing to contribute information can do so through two methods to qualify for the reward: by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or by submitting a tip online. When submitting a tip online, please select “Cold Cases Featured” and “Cold Case” in the specified sections for type of crime and offense type.
