Guerra to Ask Rodriguez to Prosecute Irene Garza Case

By Jared Taylor
Brownsville Herald
March 7, 2014

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_5578cd04-a620-11e3-bc5f-0017a43b2370.html

The Monitor

EDINBURG — Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra said he wants a fresh set of eyes to take another look at the Irene Garza cold murder case.

And he said he already has a man in mind to do the job.

Who’s that? Ricardo Rodriguez, the former state district judge who soundly defeated him in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary.

Guerra said he would send a letter to Rodriguez today asking him to assume the role of special prosecutor assigned to examine the evidence against John Feit, the former McAllen priest never charged with but widely suspected of killing the 25-year-old beauty queen in 1960.

“He got a mandate from the people, according to the turnout,” Guerra said, referring to Rodriguez garnering nearly 64 percent of the electorate, adding that it was “not just a little victory.”

“It’s a mandate. It’s a landslide. So if that’s what the people want — if that’s what he wants and that’s what (Garza’s family) wants, he should get it.”

Guerra's proposal is the latest development in what had been a bitterly fought campaign where Rodriguez outspent him by more than three to one.

On Saturday, CBS' 48 Hours aired an hour-long episode devoted to the Garza case that Guerra said cast him in a negative light. The episode included footage from Rodriguez's kickoff event in September 2013, during which Edinburg mayor Richard Garcia warmed up the crowd by asking who wants "justice for Irene Garza and all the rest of us here?" according to a recent Texas Monthly story.

Rodriguez, for his part, said he was skeptical of Guerra’s timing on wanting to appoint a special prosecutor to the case days after the primary. He garnered the support of Garza’s family, which confronted Guerra at a McAllen Citizens League forum last week.

Rodriguez reiterated that he made no promises to anyone about whether he’ll again take the case before grand jurors when he takes office next year.

Rodriguez said he hadn't received any offer from Guerra — much less heard of the proposal — but was skeptical of the timing.

“If it’s of importance and if that’s what he’s kicking around as something to take a look at, why wasn’t a special prosecutor appointed a long time ago?” Rodriguez said. “But hey, you know, again, if that’s what he’s throwing around and thinking about, it’s something to take a look at.”

Guerra’s prosecutors took the case against Feit before grand jurors in 2004 amid public pressure. No indictment against Feit was returned, and Garza’s family has accused Guerra of mishandling evidence in the case so no charges would be filed.

“He’s the best candidate because with anybody else, if they go with another no bill, they will say i controlled it,” Guerra said. “But I can’t control him. That’s why he’s the best.”