One month after Brenda Dominguez's death is officially ruled a suicide on the campus of the University of Texas-Pan American, the Edinburg Police Department opens a criminal investigation into allegations the junior at Edinburg North High may have been gang raped before she died.
Rolando Castaneda is police chief.
"Every gang member that we identify through our investigation will be interviewed," he said.
The immediate focus is the West Side 1018 gang.
"She said that, uh... That, that week... She just told me... She said... I have been raped," Brenda's friend said in a tape recorded statement with a private investigator that’s hired by the family.
Raul Reyna with Gotcha Investigations turns up evidence that a former boyfriend in the West Side 1018 gang may have wanted her dead because he believed she was pregnant.
"Brenda did tell her friends that she was in fear of her life," Raul said. "Because she was scared of the gang members and specifically her ex-boyfriend who was in the gang that was very upset and would have been very upset and assaulted her physically if he had known that she would have been pregnant with his child."
Carlos and Brenda Dominguez never believed their daughter committed suicide back in February.
Her body was found at the bottom staircase of a three-story building.
"I think my daughter's is going to rest in peace when they're in jail," Brenda said.
"I hope this thing never happens to another family... That's why I want justice," Carlos added.
Because the alleged sexual assault victim is dead, the Edinburg Police Department knows the case will be a challenge.
Evidence could be buried in the ground.
Both the police chief and Brenda's family agree that they would be willing to exhume the body if it meant bringing justice for Brenda.
The chief says all findings related to the alleged sexual assault will be turned over to the Hidalgo County district attorney's office for review.
"We need the public's help because if Brenda Dominguez was sexually assaulted, there's a possibility there could be more victims out there," Chief Castaneda said.
It's a frightening reality for a family still looking for answers.
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