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Suspect 'Trailer Park Killer' held on $1M bond
Posted: 11.09.2012 at 1:12 PM
Brett Crandall

Brett is a reporter and weekend weather forecaster for Action 4 News.

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It's the beginning to the end of a murder case that launched Weslaco's crime stoppers line.

An elderly couple was robbed and murdered 23 years ago, and on Friday the suspect in the case stood before a judge.

A man wanted in connection to a 1988 double murder was arraigned in Weslaco Friday.

Hopefully beginning the end to a long unsolved mystery.

Arturo Almaguer showed little emotion as he faced Judge Carlos Garza for the murder of Evan and Wilda Squires.

Now Interm Weslaco Police Chief Michael Kelley was a young officer when the elderly couple were robbed and murdered.

“The senseless of it,” said Kelley. “Why those two people and to die, I couldn't believe it count understand why it occurred but now maybe we will find out."

DNA was just starting to be used in criminal investigations in the late 80's.

Fortunately Kelley said the evidence was preserved.

"Our ID tech at the time had the foresight to pick up and that's the way we are trained.,” said Kelley. “And in this case she picked it up and kept submitting it."

Investigator Billy Pemelton has been working on the case for two years and worked to extradite Almaguer back to Weslaco who was living in grand rapids Michigan.

“I want to see this case go through,” said Pemelton. “Get the guilty and give the family some closer."

“It was at Magic Valley Park that the horrific crime took place 23 years ago.

While most of those living here have since moved on.

Employee’s in the manager’s office said they wish not to comment.

Justice is the goal but it will take some time.

"A lot of people nowadays don't seem to understand is we are not all CSI on TV and solve a crime within an hour,” said Pemelton. “But we are determined to solve every crime. We aren't going to quit until we do."

The murder changed the way the Weslaco PD went after crime.

1989 the Weslaco Crimestoppers was formed.

"Ever since then it’s been a true success,” said Weslaco Police J.P. Rodriguez.

But not all the questions to the mystery have yet been solved.

Where others involved? Kelley wouldn't say.

While he didn’t say exactly where the DNA came from, Chief Kelley said when the evidence is presented in court.

He said the public will find it very interesting.

Almaguer is being held on a $1 million bond.

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