SHERIFF GARZA BLAMED FOR SON-FATHER DOUBLE EXECUTION AS A RESULT OF LINKING THEM TO CONFIDENTIAL EVIDENCE

 By Juan Montoya

Did the release of confidential evidence linked to a Cameron Park homicide by Cameron County Sheriff Eric Garza result in the execution-style homicide of a father and son found dumped along Old Port Isabel Road December 29?

The family of  Inez Cruz,49, and son Manuel Cruz, 29, have charged that Garza – in an interview with a local television station – revealed that sheriff investigators had obtained a DVR from a confidential informant that allegedly showed suspect Ruben Torres executing another man last May 21. 

They charge that Garza had gone back on a promise that he would keep the information confidential and that when he revealed he had the recording, Torres and his associates put 2 and 2 together and figured out Inez Cruz had given investigators the tape.

That resulted in an unsuccessful  drive-by shooting attempt last week until the alleged killers abducted father and son and executed them, before dumping their bodies.

Authorities said both men had gunshot wounds to their heads and that their legs and hands were bound with rope. There was tape over their mouths and black T-shirts over their heads.

“They (T-shirts) were tied over their heads. It appears to be execution style. It appears to be organized criminal activity,” said Mary Esther Sorola, Cameron County justice of the peace Precinct 2, Place 3, who pronounced the men dead.

The Cruz family was more blunt and laid the responsibility squarely on Garza's doorstep for revealing he had a DVR (which Inez Cruz provided investigators) and signaled him out for retaliation, allegedly by Torres and/or his associates.

That, in turn, led Laguna Vista Police Department Anthony Chief David to chide Garza for showing disrespect to the slain father and son by posting their mug shots on his Facebook page and called him a "Facebook cop."

If Garza hadn't revealed that investigators had received the DVR, would the killers have known that they had been implicated by Inez Cruz? And would the killing of his 24-year-old son Manuel – who was executed along with his father – have been prevented?

A commenter put it even more bluntly:

Garza is to blame for his, during the homicide that took place around may in Cameron Park, right after the arrest, Garza came out on the news saying that the arrest was made thanks to a DVR that was given to CID, well guess who turned that DVR in? CRUZ! The victim on this homicide, as soon as Garza opened his mouth releasing critical information Cruz was dead... and why? Because they knew Cruz had that DVR... and Cruz gave it to CID with the agreement that he was going to be a confidential source, but Garza stupid ass gave him away and now he is dead. Thank you Sheriff...another lawsuit coming to the county.

When a Garza supporter criticized David by saying "Sounds like sour grapes from lowly Laguna PD. Show some class, David! Chin-gao, bro," David supporters responded by showing the Texas Ranger registry that showed he had been one.

"Tony is not just any cop from a small town. I'd say he's credentialed to make such a statement. In your words, "siddown and shut up"....grasshopper." https://texasrangerregister.org/david-anthony-tony/