Erica Ann Garcia

Erica Ann Garcia was a 14-year-old girl described by her mother as pretty and strong-headed. Her friends called her "Tweety," a nickname she had tattooed. A student at Sharpstown Middle School in Houston, Texas, Erica had just made the cheerleading squad. A former police sergeant assigned to her school recalled a conversation with Erica before her death, saying she was tired of the life she was living and wanted to make a change. Her mother, Margarita Garcia, has spoken of the pain of not being able to see her daughter get married or have children.

On the evening of Friday, June 6, 1997, Erica's aunt dropped her off at a local teen club called New Dimension between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m. This was the last time her family saw her alive. During the night, Erica and a friend left the club, went to a nearby apartment to meet with some individuals Erica knew, and then returned to the club. They went back to the same apartment a second time, after which her friend went home, leaving Erica with the acquaintances. She was last seen at the Bachatu Grill Club at 11107 Bellaire.

The next morning, Saturday, June 7, 1997, at approximately 7:45 a.m., a security guard making his rounds discovered a boarded-up doorway was ajar at the abandoned Alief General Hospital, located at 11101 Bellaire. Inside, he found Erica's body. An investigation determined the female was Erica Ann Garcia. She had been brutally beaten, raped, and strangled to death with her own clothing. Her body was found partially nude.

The Houston Police Department (HPD) Homicide Division launched an investigation into Erica's murder. Detectives believe that it likely took more than one person to overpower her. In the years since, investigators have traveled extensively, including to New Orleans, following up on leads and interviewing men who were with Erica at the last club where she was seen. Despite their efforts, a clear motive for the murder has never been established, and the case grew cold. DNA evidence was collected from the scene, and in May 2022, investigators were hopeful that advancements in technology could help identify a suspect.

Erica's family has never stopped seeking justice. Her mother, Margarita, has spoken publicly about the unbearable pain and unanswered questions that have haunted their family for decades. "Erica was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a beautiful soul that deserved to live out her life," her mother stated at a press conference. "We are going to find you. We are never going to give up." Erica's aunt regularly visits her grave on holidays and birthdays.

As of October 2025, the case remains unsolved. The Houston Police Department's Homicide Division Cold Case Squad continues to seek information from the public. HPD Detective Ramon Cervantes believes there are people, now likely in their 40s or 50s, who have knowledge of what happened to Erica but have not come forward. "You may have moved on with your life, but Erica did not have that opportunity," the detective said, addressing those individuals.

Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the charging and/or arrest of the suspect or suspects responsible for Erica Ann Garcia's murder. Anyone with information is urged to contact the HPD Cold Case Squad at 713-308-3618 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at 713-222-TIPS (8477).