MICO, Texas – A man and a woman were arrested after allegedly killing the woman’s parents and dumping their bodies down a ravine.
Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown said on April 8, deputies responded to a welfare concern at the 3300 block of County Road 265 in Mico, Texas, after Stephen Rehbein failed to report to work.
Deputies were dispatched to the home, where they were unable to make contact with anyone but observed evidence indicating possible foul play.
Investigators were called to the scene and, after further examination, found additional evidence suggesting a crime had occurred, Brown said. A search warrant was obtained, and investigators gathered information identifying vehicles belonging to Stephen Rehbein.
Using available technology, one of the vehicles was later located traveling in the Corpus Christi area, Brown said. With assistance from Corpus Christi Police Department officers, the vehicle was stopped for a welfare check.
The vehicle was occupied by two adults identified as Cassandra Lange, 29, and Joby Williams, 32, along with two children, Brown said. Lange was identified as the biological daughter of Cherry Rehbein, the wife of Stephen Rehbein.
A Medina County chief deputy and a Texas Ranger traveled to Corpus Christi, where both suspects were interviewed, Brown said. During the interview, Brown said Lange confessed that she and Williams had killed her mother and stepfather and disposed of their bodies in a ravine.
Investigators in Medina County began searching the Medina Lake area, but the search was challenging due to nighttime conditions, Brown said. After several hours, deputies located two large black garbage bags concealed in a deep ravine off FM 1283. Brown said the location was not visible from the roadway and was discovered through careful scene observation by a deputy.
With assistance from ESD fire personnel, two bodies were recovered and transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, Brown said.
Lange and Williams were taken into custody and charged with capital murder of multiple persons in the deaths of Stephen and Cherry Rehbein, Brown said. The two children, ages 6 years and 1 month, were placed with Child Protective Services and are being reunited with family members.
Brown said the initial call was received April 8 at about 12:15 p.m., deputies arrived at the residence around 1 p.m., and the suspects were taken into custody at about 7 p.m. He said Lange remains in custody with a bond set at $150,000 surety, and Williams remains in custody with a bond set at $200,000.
The investigation remains ongoing, Brown said.