Deceased/Not Found TX - Abigail Estrada, 13, Harlingen, 16 June 2007 *R. Torres guilty*

NamUs

NCMEC

Charley Project

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
• Missing Since: June 16, 2007 from Harlingen, Texas
• Classification: Endangered Missing
• Date of Birth: October 6, 1993
• Age: 13 years old
• Height and Weight: 5'0, 100 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics: Hispanic female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Abigail's hair was dyed black at the time of her disappearance. She has a tattoo of the name "Shawn" on her ankle, a mole on the upper left side of her chest, and a scar below her right earlobe. Her nickname is Abby.
• Clothing/Jewelry Description: A black tank top or muscle shirt, tan striped shorts and slippers imprinted with the cartoon character Winnie the Pooh.

Details of Disappearance
Abigail was last seen leaving her home in Harlingen, Texas on June 16, 2007. She has never been heard from again. She left her residence with her 16-year-old boyfriend, Ruben Torres, and has never been heard from again. A photograph of Ruben is posted below this case summary. He later stated he dropped Abigail off at a street corner near her home. Her loved ones did not believe she would have run away and stated that even if she had, she would have worn something other than slippers and would have taken extra clothing. All of Abigail's personal belongings were left behind when she vanished. Her parents knew she was seeing Ruben and had consented to their relationship, as had Ruben's parents.

In August 2007, Ruben was charged with capital murder in Abigail's case. He was arrested when he made a court appearance for other, unrelated charges that were brought against him before Abigail went missing. Authorities stated Abigail was a witness in a juvenile felony case against Ruben. The murder charge was dropped for lack of evidence several months later, but Ruben remained incarcerated for other crimes until March 2009. Prosecutors stated he is still the prime suspect and they may charge him with murder again if additional evidence, such as Abigail's body, is located.

Abigail may still be in the south Texas area. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance due to the circumstances involved.



"8-Year-Old Cold Case Close to Being Solved"

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/8yearold-cold-case-close-to-being-solved/33619778

Eight years ago today, a Harlingen woman went missing. A timeline of events on Abigail Estrada’s disappearance sits in the Cameron County District Attorney's Office. The pieces brought investigators closer to solving the puzzle.

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Teen charged with murder in connection with girl's disappearance - August 22nd, 2007

Harlingen teen remains missing after four years - October 6th, 2011

Family release balloons for missing teen - July 14th, 2012

The same man that was charged in 2007 has been arrested again.

"Arrest made in 8-year-old cold case, teen never found"

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1245604#.VeFdFPlViko

An arrest was made Thursday in a Cameron County cold case involving a teen who went missing eight years ago.

The Cameron County District’s Attorney’s Office arrested Ruben Torres at an establishment in McAllen, said District Attorney Luis Saenz.

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http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/man-arrested-in-harlingen-cold-case/34986792 - Video Link

I wonder what evidence was finally uncovered?

"Arrest Warrant Reveals Disappearance Investigation Details"

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/Arrest-Warrant-Reveals-Disappearance-Investigation-Details/35170748

The arrest warrant stated that Torres and another friend went to Estrada’s apartment to pick her up on the morning of her disappearance. That was the last time she was ever seen.

Investigators tracked down witnesses in the case. All of them gave sworn statement.

The warrant stated that Torres told one of his relatives that he killed Estrada, because she was a witness against him in the drive-by shooting.

Investigators said a witness told them Torres took Abigail Estrada to a field and shot her in the back of the head. He left her behind and fled to Mexico.

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A court hearing for Ruben Torres is currently scheduled for Friday, October 16th.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/Court-Rescheduled-for-Teen-s-Murder-Suspect/35726618

He's being charged as an adult.

http://m.krgv.com/news/Capital-Murder-Suspect-Charged-as-an-Adult/36287112

Man Indicted in 8-Year-Old Murder Case

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/Man-Indicted-in-8-Year-Old-Murder-Case/36995716

A grand jury indicted a man in connection with an 8-year-old murder case. Ruben Torres is facing capital murder charges in connection with the death of Abigail Estrada.

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Family Speaks Out About Indictment in Cold Case

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/Family-Speaks-Out-About-Indictment-in-Cold-Case/37000966

The second charge is for the murder of Estrada. Her family said they want to know where the body is.

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Estrada’s parents haven’t spoken to CHANNEL 5 NEWS since her disappearance, fearing retaliation. Her aunt is releasing a statement on behalf of Estrada’s parents.

Estrada’s mom said nothing will ever bring her daughter back. “Ruben, I hope this opens your eyes knowing that this will help you in the long run…by confessing and letting us know where Abigail is,” she said.

Estrada’s father said they’ve suffered a long time without her. “It’s in God’s hands. Hopefully the judge will make the right decision at Ruben’s punishment. This won’t bring Abigail home, but it will bring peace knowing that Abby has a big family willing to fight for justice to the person that did this to her,” he said.

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Hearing Set for Man Charged in 8-Year-Old Cold Case

Ruben Torres, 25, will face a judge on Jan. 20.

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Cold Case Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

A man accused of a murder from eight years ago was set to face a judge Thursday to enter a plea.

Ruben Torres allegedly kidnapped and killed his girlfriend, Abigail Estrada in 2007. Torres was a minor at the time. He's now 25 and is charged as an adult.

Torres pleaded not guilty. He’s charged with murder and capital murder.

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A trial date was set for the end of March.

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Trial Date Set Back in Capital Murder Case

http://www.krgv.com/story/31390516/trial-date-set-back-in-capital-murder-case

The pre-trial hearing is set for May 27. An actual trial date will be set then.

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Trial for Suspect in 9-year-old Case Deferred Again

http://www.krgv.com/story/32816530/trial-for-suspect-in-9-year-old-case-deferred-again

Torres’s pre-trial is set for September 9.

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Murder Suspect's Trial Reset for Third Time

http://www.krgv.com/story/33068504/murder-suspect-due-in-court-monday

A murder suspect accused in a 9-year-old cold case was set to be in court on Monday in Cameron County. The trial was reset for a third time.

State District Judge Janet Leal reset the case for Jan. 6. DNA samples that were sent off for testing haven’t come back.

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Trial begins Monday for 2007 disappearance of Harlingen girl
Posted: Friday, January 6, 2017 12:27 pm| By Pamela Cody, Staff writer

A Harlingen man accused of the kidnapping and murder of his teenage girlfriend in 2007 will go on trial next week.

Ruben Torres was in court this morning for a pre-trial hearing. His murder trial is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Torres, who is now 26, is charged in the death of 13-year-old Abigail Estrada, a Harlingen girl whose body was never found.

He was 17 when he was dating Estrada. . . .

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Murder suspect rejects plea deals; trial gets underway

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_7c6b00ec-d685-11e6-b3bf-ab49a5cc90d0.html

Nearly ten years after Abigail Estrada disappeared her boyfriend will go on trial for her murder even though her body has never been found.

This morning Ruben Torres, a Harlingen man accused of the kidnapping and death of Estrada, rejected two plea deals from prosecutors that would have eliminated the need for a trial.

Jury selection is underway in the 103rd state District Court before Judge Janet Leal.

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Ruben Torres pleads guilty for 2007 killing of Abigail Estrada

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_fec1f32c-d827-11e6-b209-97536262a5a0.html

After only one day of testimony, Ruben Torres, the Harlingen man charged with capital murder in the death and disappearance of his 13-year old girlfriend Abigail Estrada, accepted a plea bargain from prosecutors.

He pleaded guilty this morning to the 2007 murder and 103rd state District Judge Janet Leal sentenced him to 18 years in prison with credit for time served.

Under the plea agreement he accepted from the Cameron County District Attorney's Office, Torres will be eligible for parole and possibly out of prison in as little as 10 years according to his attorney Lilia Gonzales Pena. He received credit for the 503 days he's been jailed. Had the trial continued and Torres been found guilty of capital murder he would have served a minimum of 40 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

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Prosecutors say they believe Torres fatally shot the girl after she provided information to police about a drive-by shooting allegedly involving him.

Torres, who's now 26, faced a minimum of 40 years in prison if he was convicted of capital murder. He'll receive credit for the more than 500 days in custody he's already served.

http://www.statesman.com/news/local...th-missing-girlfriend/k4IVQ1ICrP4bX2WRWYhkfP/

Harlingen Teen’s Family Continues Search for Missing Body

http://www.krgv.com/story/34240203/harlingen-teens-family-continues-search-for-missing-body

Laura Estrada, Abigail’s aunt, spent the last decade making sure her niece’s disappearance wasn’t forgotten. She said the family is upset about the outcome.

She held a picture of Abigail, asking Torres to tell them where the body was.

“I didn’t have any kind of fear. I did have somewhat of anger but I wanted to look him in the eyes, just as he looked Abigail in the eyes before he murdered her,” Estrada said.

“We have to move on. We’re just hoping and we’re going to pray that he will come to his senses and let us know where she’s at,” Estrada said.

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Harlingen Teen’s Family Asking for Tips Leading to Remains

http://www.krgv.com/story/35685479/harlingen-teens-family-asking-for-tips-leading-to-remains

Torres was convicted this year but never admitted to killing Estrada.

Laura Estrada, her aunt and the family's spokeswoman, said their frustration continues.

"We still don't have closure, even though Ruben's been sentenced," Estrada said. "We still need to find Abigail. We were hoping that he would have already said something."

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Sixteen years ago, Abigail Estrada went missing in Harlingen. She was 13 at the time.

Her then boyfriend, Ruben Torres, is in jail for murder, but Abigail's body was never found.

"We want her home to give her a proper burial, I mean she deserves that," Laura Estrada, Abigail's aunt, said.

"She was a silly little girl that cared for her siblings a lot. She loved to dance and twirl around a lot," Laura said. "We miss her."

Abigail was last seen getting into a car with her boyfriend, Ruben Torres, and another man who was sitting in the back seat back in 2007.

Ten years after her disappearance, Torres was sentenced to 18 years in prison for her death. He pled no contest.

"It's unfair he's doing his time for her murder, however it doesn't bring us peace because her remains have yet to be found," Laura said.