TEXAS
The Monitor
[The Last Confession – CBS 48 Hours]
Posted: Monday, March 3, 2014
Jacob Fischler | The Monitor
EDINBURG — One day before their campaigns end, neither candidate for Hidalgo County district attorney campaigned much — at least nominally.
Former 92nd state District Court Judge Ricardo Rodriguez worked from his law office in Edinburg during the day. And incumbent DA Rene Guerra held a news conference at the Hidalgo County Courthouse to attempt to clear his name after a national news story broadcast Saturday looked unfavorably upon his 2004 handling of a 1960 murder case. He said the conference was not a part of his campaign.
“I’ve asked you all to be present today because of the news story that appeared on 48 Hours on CBS national news on Saturday night,” he said to reporters. Guerra stood behind a long mahogany table stacked high with file folders and audio tapes in the Grand Jury Room of the county courthouse.
He said the files and tapes contained evidence in the unsolved case of Irene Garza, the 25-year-old McAllen beauty queen murdered in 1960. Guerra came under fire when the case was reopened and went to an Hidalgo County grand jury in 2004, but the grand jury failed to indict. Some criticized Guerra’s office for soft-pedaling the prosecution, while also appearing callous to the victim’s family. Guerra hoped the evidence would show his prosecutors made a good faith effort in the case.
“All he did is just use the county courthouse to get out his message, with taxpayer money,” Rodriguez said. “That’s why his campaign finance report shows he doesn’t spend any money, because he uses the resources available to him as district attorney. And it’s not fair.”
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