SAN ANTONIO – The family of the 84-year-old man who was found burning in a ditch last Saturday is asking for the community’s help in finding who is responsible for the murder.
When firefighters put out the flames, Manuel Mendez was found wrapped in a jacket and a plastic shower curtain with his hands tied.
His son David Mendez says his father was a kind man of God, and he has no idea who would want to hurt his father.
“If you knew him you really got a picture of who Christ was,” David Mendez said. “He was always serving his community.”
David Mendez says his brother last saw their father two weeks ago. David tried to call his father last Friday but couldn’t reach him.
“I had actually tried to get a hold of him to see if he wanted to come with me out of town,” David Mendez said. “I couldn’t get a hold of him. I didn’t think a whole lot of it because when we get older, we forget to charge our phones.”
On Sunday, when David received a call from police looking for his father, he knew something was wrong.
“He didn’t show up to church.” David Mendez said. “He never misses church. That was alarming to me. I called my brother and told him; hey dad is missing.”
So far, police have not identified a suspect or shared a possible motive for the murder. Manuel Mendez leaves behind 2 sons and seven grandchildren.
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They’re holding a vigil for him Saturday Apr. 3 at His Bridge Builders Ministry House located at 339 Gabriel St. at 7:30 p.m.