Authorities have dropped a murder charge filed against a man who was arrested in connection to a drug-related kidnapping in Brownsville.
Defense attorney Ed Cyganiewicz told Action 4 News that charges against his client Francisco Javier Flores have been dropped.
Action 4 News confirmed that the charges have been dismissed but that Flores remains in jail for an unrelated parole violation.
Brownsville police arrested Flores back on July 30th as the first of five suspects jailed for the kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Reyes Bocanegra.
Five gunmen kidnapped Bocanegra outside the Mariscos Playa Azul seafood restaurant off Military Highway on July 18th.
His body was found in his mother-in-law's SUV in Rancho Viejo a short time later.
Court records show that investigators allegedly linked Flores to the crime through a facial tattoo.
According to a probable cause affidavit, witnesses identified Flores in a photo line-up based on the tattoo.
Brownsville Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez did not immediately return a call for comment about the charges being dropped.
Officials with the Cameron County District Attorney's Office confirmed that the charges against Flores were dropped but declined further comment.
Court records show that Flores is on parole for aggravated assault.
The records show that Flores has other arrests going back to 2000 for evading arrest, resisting arrest and a hit & run accident.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT