CCSO, Texas Rangers Solve 28-Year-Old Canyon Lake Murder
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A 50-year-old Brazoria man is behind bars in Comal County jail, charged with the murder of 15-year-old San Antonio teenager Emily Jeanette Garcia, whose nude body was discovered near Cranes Mill Road in Canyon Lake 28 years ago.
Thomas Ray Galindo was arrested Friday at his home in Brazoria, Texas by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force and transferred to Comal County on Wednesday.
He is charged with one count of murder for the death of Garcia, who was found strangled and sexually assaulted in Canyon Lake on Feb. 25, 1993.
Garcia’s body was identified in 1994 after a family member saw a local news report and contacted law enforcement, Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement Wednesday.
Galindo was 21-years-old at the time of the murder and an acquaintance of the San Antonio teenager, who was living away from her mother and sister at the time and staying with friends in northeast San Antonio.
Garcia was known to hang out with friends in that area of the city and frequent pool halls.
The teenager was last seen alive a few days before her death.
In a separate statement, DPS said Garcia was approximately three months pregnant at the time of her death.
Garcia’s murder turned into a cold case despite a lengthy investigation by the Comal County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).
In 2017, CCSO renewed its investigation and in early 2021 asked the Texas Rangers Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program to review the case.
“The initial investigation included several people Garcia was acquainted with, including Galindo,” DPS said. “The ranger and sheriff’s detective working on the investigation reevaluated the entire case and interviewed numerous people, revealing new information which ultimately led to Galindo’s arrest.”
Texas Ranger Keith Pauska teamed with CCSO Det. Frank Cockrell for the investigation.
Galindo is being held under a $100,000 bond.
According to a Youtube video posted by DPS on Aug. 4, Texas Crime Stoppers offered a $3,000 cash reward for tips into her disappearance.
