Murder investigation begins in Alton after body discovered

ALTON, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The body found during the missing person investigation has been identified and authorities say it was a homicide.

On Thursday, July 4, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Alton Police Department regarding a missing person.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the missing person was alive and was last seen within the city limits of Alton, prompting Alton Police to take over the investigation.

On Friday, July 12, investigators followed a lead at a residence in the 1800 block of E. Juarez Avenue, according to an Alton police news release.

At the scene, they found the decomposed body of a man inside the house. Authorities identified the body as 45-year-old Alan Israel Sanchez Herrera, the man who was reported missing.

An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was homicide.

Alton Police are leading the homicide investigation along with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Texas Rangers.

Anyone with information related to the homicide investigation is asked to contact the Alton Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at (956) 432-0700 or Alton Crime Stoppers at (956) 585-TIPS (8477).