Man Arrested in Cold Case Murder of Texas Cheerleader from 1995

New Charging Documents Reveal Breakthrough in Decades-Old Case

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – After nearly 28 years since the tragic event, law enforcement officials have made a major breakthrough in the cold case of a 19-year-old cheerleader’s murder in east Harris County. Jose Luis Rios, the primary suspect, was recently apprehended and charged with the murder of Kristie Martin, a Galena Park High School student. The incident occurred on December 23, 1995, just days before Christmas.

According to the recently released charging documents, Rios is accused of shooting and killing Martin in Terrance Park at approximately 12:15 a.m. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded to a distress call regarding a shooting in the 16500 block of Market Street. Upon arrival, they discovered Martin, who had suffered a gunshot wound and was unresponsive.

Investigations revealed that Martin and her three friends were present at the park when the tragic incident took place. Eyewitnesses identified Rios as the individual sitting in the passenger seat of a passing pickup truck. As the truck drove by, Rios allegedly opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, hitting Martin. The medical examiner confirmed that Martin’s cause of death was a single gunshot wound to her back, which exited through her chest.

In a recent social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the FBI Houston announced that agents had traveled to Mexico City to retrieve Rios. The FBI successfully brought Rios back to the Houston area, and he is currently in custody.

The closure of this cold case brings hope to Martin’s family and the Galena Park High School community, who have long awaited justice for the young cheerleader. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and advancements in forensic technology have played a crucial role in solving this decades-old crime.

For further details and updates on this ongoing investigation, stay tuned to KTRK-TV.