Investigators wrap up search at McAllen attorney’s property, apparently leave empty-handed

Investigators dug up part of McAllen attorney Al Alvarez’s yard on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, as they searched for a body apparently buried on the property. (Photo by Dave Hendricks / The Progress Times.)

Investigators apparently left a McAllen attorney’s property empty-handed Friday after a three-day search.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Starr County Sheriff’s Office and the Rio Grande City Police Department spent three days searching a property owned by McAllen attorney Al Alvarez.

Investigators remain tight-lipped about why they decided to search the nearly 5-acre property, but Rio Grande City police Inv. Robert Caples said Alvarez wasn’t involved — he just happened to own the land.

Caples said investigators searched the property as part of a “cold case” murder, but he declined to provide any details or reveal what, exactly, they apparently spent three days trying to find.

“We can’t discuss that because it’s an ongoing investigation,” Caples said. “And it could damage the integrity of the case.”

Investigators started the search on Wednesday morning, when they arrived at Alvarez’s home armed with a small excavator, a drone and other equipment.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Starr County Sheriff’s Office and the Rio Grande City Police Department were joined by the Cameron County Fire Marshal Service, the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office and state game wardens.

Investigators searched a property owned by McAllen attorney Al Alvarez on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. (Photo by Dave Hendricks / The Progress Times.)

Brooks County Sheriff Urbino “Benny” Martinez said the search involved a murder linked to the Mexican Mafia.

“They’re currently digging,” Martinez said on Wednesday. “They’re trying to see if they can find the body.”

Caples declined to comment on what Martinez said about the body or links between the murder case and the Mexican Mafia.

“We can’t discuss that,” Caples said. “All I can tell you is that information is inaccurate.”

The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office showed up to assist other law enforcement agencies, Caples said, and isn’t handling the investigation.

“I have no earthly idea why an agency that’s not involved in our investigation would even comment,” Caples said.

On Friday, when investigators wrapped up the search, Alvarez said they hadn’t found anything.

“State Fire Marshal conducted an arson investigation stemming from Rio Grande City case dating back to 1991,” Alvarez wrote in a Facebook post. “No bodies where (sic) found and none where (sic) buried. unfortunately no money was found either. All machinery drones law enforcement vehicles have left the premises. To their word they did return the property to the same or better condition.”

Investigators searched a property owned by McAllen attorney Al Alvarez on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. (Photo by Dave Hendricks / The Progress Times.)

Caples declined to comment on what Alvarez wrote on Facebook.

“We understand that people are going to speculate about our investigation,” Caples said. “But we’re going to have to leave it at that.”

While the search occurred on property Alvarez owns, the investigation didn’t involve him.

Alvarez purchased the land, which is located near the intersection of Ware Road and 6 Mile Road in McAllen, during February 2009, according to documents filed with the Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office.

“It was a foreclosed property,” Alvarez said in an interview.

The previous owner, Juan Daniel Favela Vasquez, died in April 2005, according to documents filed in Hidalgo County probate court, after being shot in Monterrey, Mexico.

Whether or not investigators plan to return and conduct another search remains unclear.

“I can’t comment on that,” Caples said.