A mother and son disappeared on their way to a family Christmas gathering in Houston.
HOUSTON — The Texas Department of Public Safety is renewing its search for information in the unsolved Christmas Day 1980 murders of a Houston mother and her teenage son, offering an increased reward of $6,000 for tips that lead to an arrest.
Estella Salinas, 31, and her son Andrew Salinas, 14, were found strangled on Dec. 25, 1980, on the east side of White Oak Bayou near the Pinemont Bridge, close to Creekmont Drive in Houston.
The mother and son had left their home that Christmas morning to visit family at Estella’s parents’ residence across town. Witnesses last saw them in a blue 1972 Mercury Cougar near the intersection of Cavalcade Street and the US-59 northbound frontage road in front of a McDonald’s. Family members later discovered the vehicle abandoned near Cavalcade and the Eastex Freeway, with the keys and personal belongings still inside.
Over the past 45 years, investigators have interviewed several witnesses who provided information, but no arrests have been made. Evidence from the case has recently been submitted for analysis using modern DNA technology.
The Houston Police Department and Texas Rangers are actively investigating the murders and believe community members may have critical information to help solve the case.
The increased reward is funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office through Texas Crime Stoppers and is available only if tips are received before the next featured Texas Rangers cold case is announced. To qualify for the reward, tipsters must call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or submit information online through the designated portal, selecting “Cold Cases Featured” and “Cold Case” in the appropriate sections.
The case is part of a DPS public awareness program that features one unsolved case from the Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program every two months to generate new leads. There is no statute of limitations for murder, so investigators continue pursuing these cases until they reach a resolution or exhaust all viable leads.
Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include the best way to reach you.