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By GILBERTO SALINAS Herald Staff Writer Brownsville Police officers and other personnel kept saying Monday Arnoldo Esparza’s mur der-suicide came as a total sur prise. What most of the department didn’t know was Esparza, a cus todian at the police department, had planned the event for sev eral days, according to a note he left behind for his family. “He (Esparza) was asking for his children to forgive him for what he was going to do,” said Cameron County Chief Deputy Joe Elizardi. “He wanted his body to be cremated and that the ashes be put in (the coffin) with his wife... to be buried together,” Elizardi said. Saturday afternoon, Esparza, 51, of Brownsville, pulled up to a Los Fresnos residence where Dolores Esparza was staying. She walked up to the driver’s side window of her husband's car and witnesses say they heard a gunshot and saw Do lores Esparza fall to the ground. A second shot was heard and witnesses saw Arnoldo Esparza slump over the steering wheel of the car. Elizardi said the couple was separated and Dolores Esparza was staying with some friends about a half-mile east of FM 803 on Highway 100. “He had already planned what he was going to do. Rea son we feel that is because of the note that was recovered from his family,” Elizardi said. In his note, Arnoldo Esparza asked for his two teenage sons to take care of their grandpar ents. However, Dolores Esparza wasn't mentioned in the note, Elizardi said. The motive for this murder: suicide still wasn’t clear, how ever, suicide rates and family violence do increase over the Christmas holidays, Elizardi said. “Some turn to drinking and others decide to take their lives,” Elizardi said. “The prob lems end for them but they’re (the problems) still there for those who are left behind.” Some of the reasons for above average suicide rates during the holidays are lack of money to buy gifts, unemployment or lou liness, he said. Both Esparzas are survived by their two sons, Arnoldo Es parza Jr. and John Joe Esparza. Funeral services for Dolores Esparza will be at 10 a.m. Wedesday at Christ the King Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Arnoldo Esparza’s prayer ser vices will be tonight at 7 p.m. and the burial will be Wednes day at Buena Vista Burial Park.
Newspaper Details
Brownsville Herald
Brownsville, Texas, US
Tue, Dec 17, 1996
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Clarissa M.
USA 17 Jun 2026
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