Human remains were discovered last Thursday in the 11800 block of Ferndell Street in Houston after a dog retrieved a human skull from the area and left it on the driveway of local area resident Erica Hernandez.
“I walked up to them and there’s a human skull sitting in the driveway, just sitting there. I was stunned. I was shocked,” she said, reported Click2Houston.
The area has been described as being desolate and dark at night, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Harris County sheriff’s office have identified the skeletal remains as belonging to 22-year-old Luis Rangel who, according to the Texas EquuSearch website was last seen on May 16.
Gonzalez said in a tweet sent Tuesday night, that currently authorities have no suspects and the killer remains free.
Update 1: on 6/13 @HCSOTexas investigated a scene at 11800 Ferndell where human skeletal remains were found. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences positively identified the remains as Luis Rangel h/m 22 yoa.#HouNews
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) June 19, 2019
Rangel’s family reported him missing on May 18 after he allegedly called his mother to tell her he was coming home but never made it.
According to ABC13, when Rangel failed to make it into work the next day, his cousin called the police.
Update 2: Rangel was last seen during the early morning hours of Sat, 5/18 on Jensen Dr. Rangel had been reported missing to Houston Police. His car was found after being burned & abandoned on Lee Rd. Anyone w/info is urged to please call @HCSOTexas 713-221-6000 or @CrimeStopHOU pic.twitter.com/sstHAs3LiK
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) June 19, 2019
On May 19, Rangel’s burned Nissan Altima was said to have been found in the 6000 block of Townsan Rd. in Humble, Texas.
Authorities say the vehicle had been set on fire, leaving no evidence as to what might have occurred.
Rangel. No suspects at this time. @HCSOTexas is conducting the follow-up investigation. RT @_maryssasilva: https://t.co/UgjLzlD7Nx
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) June 19, 2019
Anyone with information is urged to call the sheriff’s office at 713-221-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. You can also make an anonymous tip at www.Crime-Stoppers.org.
US Crime Statistics
According to a report posted on the FBI’s website, there has been an overall decline in the number of violent crimes and property crimes reported for the first six months of 2018 when compared with figures for the first six months of 2017.
Three of the offenses in the violent crime category—robbery, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, and aggravated assault—showed decreases when data from the first six months of 2018 were compared with data from the first six months of 2017. The number of robbery offenses decreased 12.5 percent, murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses fell 6.7 percent, and aggravated assault offenses were down 2.0 percent. The fourth offense in the violent crime category, rape (revised definition), increased 0.6 percent.
The overall number of violent crimes decreased in all city population groups. Law enforcement agencies in cities with populations of 25,000 to 49,999 reported the largest decrease, 8.2 percent. Law enforcement agencies in cities with populations of 1,000,000 and over and in cities with populations of 50,000 to 99,999 reported the smallest decreases, 2.8 percent.
Violent crime decreased 4.5 percent in metropolitan counties and fell 3.5 percent in nonmetropolitan counties.
Violent crime decreased in three of the four regions of the nation. These crimes were down 6.5 percent in the South, 5.5 percent in the Midwest, and 4.7 percent in the Northeast. Violent crime increased 0.2 percent in the West.
