A Sad Story From Edinburg-The Death of a Young Woman

The Monitor

EDINBURG — All was quiet Thursday outside the Schunior Village condominiums, where a University of Texas-Pan American student — who graduated just days before — was found murdered earlier this week in the apartment she shared with her brother.

Miles away, in Harlingen, nearly a dozen vehicles were lined outside Sergio Cavazos’ home, as friends and family came by to support him and his wife, Norma, in their struggle to come to terms with their 23-year-old daughter’s brutal and sudden death.

Larissa Cavazos graduated with honors from UTPA on Saturday, receiving a bachelors degree in speech pathology and English. A straight-A student, Larissa had planned to use speech therapy to help children, her father said. She graduated from Harlingen South High School in 2000.

"She was going to work on her masters degree," Sergio Cavazos said. "She was a happy, go-to person, full of life and hardworking. She was the kind of girl that, every weekend, she was here Friday through Sunday.

"She was a wonderful daughter, a loving daughter."

Police say damage to the front door of Larissa’s Edinburg home indicates forced entry. The residence, at 1029 French Ave., is just blocks from the university, and is home to many college students.

Larissa was discovered inside a bedroom with a gunshot wound to her upper body, said Edinburg Police Chief Quirino Muñoz. He is awaiting autopsy reports to declare an official ruling on the cause of death.

Muñoz said police are in the preliminary stages of the investigation. They currently do not have any suspects or a motive for the murder. They are piecing together a timeline. Her roommate, who family identified as Larissa’s brother, Sergio Jr., was not home at the time of the murder.

Judging by the body, the killing probably occurred late Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning, Muñoz said.

A neighbor who lives in the same complex went over to Cavazos’ residence Wednesday afternoon and upon seeing the damaged front door became worried and entered the residence, finding her body and immediately calling police.

Chris Johnson, who lives down the street from where Larissa lived, describes Schunior Village, which sits northwest of campus, as a typical college haven. He said the area sees high volumes of traffic at night and a few noise complaints from more low-key residents over the weekend. Johnson says police patrol the neighborhood regularly, which makes the neighborhood as safe as any other.

"We see the same people every day … those people know other people and so on," said the 20-year-old pre-pharmacy student. "It’s sad and very tragic, but (a murder) can happen anywhere no matter where you live."

Johnson, a member of the Tao Kappa Epsilon fraternity, didn’t personally know the victim, but met her through various acquaintances.

Cavazos said his daughter was very outgoing and had a very close relationship with her family. Her uncle, who asked his name not be used, said she had a lot of friends.

"She loved her family very much," the uncle said. "No words are going to describe what they are going through," he added, referring to Sergio and Norma Cavazos. "We appreciate the outpouring of support from our friends and family."

UTPA officials declined to comment Thursday, because the murder occurred off campus.

However, Richard Treviño, executive director for the learning assistance center, said on-call grief counselors were made available to students.

Students wishing to talk to a counselor can call (956) 381-2529 during regular business hours. After hours, students may call the university’s police department at (956) 316-7151.

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Miriam Ramirez covers eastern Hidalgo County and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4441.

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Cari Hammerstrom covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4424.