Reward Offered In 1994 Falfurrias Cold Case Murder

On the morning of April 10, 1994, the Falfurrias Fire Department responded to a house fire on West 12th Street in Falfurrias. 

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking for the public’s help in solving the 1994 murder of Mike DeLeon (20) in Falfurrias, and a reward up to $6,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible, if the tip is received before the next featured case the following month.

On the morning of April 10, 1994, the Falfurrias Fire Department responded to a house fire on West 12th Street in Falfurrias. 

After the fire was extinguished, DeLeon was found dead inside the residence. DeLeon was the only person in the residence at the time of the fire, and investigators believe the fire was the result of arson.

In addition to DeLeon’s case, the DPS Texas Rangers’ Unsolved Homicides website provides information on more than 75 cases in an effort to help garner public interest in unsolved or “cold cases.”

Texas Crime Stoppers recently began offering rewards (funded by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division and administered by DPS) of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for any cold case listed on the website.

For more information, visit the Texas Ranger cold case website at http://www.dps.texas.gov/TexasRangers/UnsolvedHomicides/index.htm.

Additionally, as part of a DPS public awareness program, one case from the Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation (Cold Case) Program is featured each month in an effort to generate new investigative leads and bring attention to these cold cases.

The Texas Crime Stoppers reward is increased up to $6,000 for the featured case in hopes that the higher reward money will generate additional tips. The higher reward amount will only be paid if the tip is submitted before the next case is featured.

To be eligible for the cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to authorities by calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).  All tips are anonymous.

Individuals also can submit information through the Texas Ranger Cold Case website or contact us by telephone at 1-800-346-3243 (DPS Missing Persons Hotline).

The Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program was created to assist Texas law enforcement agencies investigating unsolved murders or violent serial crimes. 

Since there is no statute of limitations for the offense of murder, investigators pursue these cases to a successful resolution or until no viable leads remain.