Borderland Crimes Borderland Crimes, from KVIA-TV, ABC-7

An El Paso girl has tried to move past the sexual assault she endured when she was only 5 years old. The girl is now 17, locked in the grinding wheels of the justice system. Edward Alvarado is facing multiple charges of continuous sex abuse of a child, and has been in jail since 2016 awaiting a jury trial. ABC-7's Stephanie Valle investigates what is to blame for the delay.
Listen to Borderland Crimes episode 12 for more background on the state commission investigation into the judge. You can also find that here: A Murder, A Mistrial and Misconduct Allegations

On May 17, 2024, three murder suspects who all had once faced a capital murder charge formally accepted their sentences as part of a plea agreement.
Adam Acosta, Tristan Chilton, and Brandon Olsen pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of murder in the death of Tyler Croke, 23.
In 2017, Croke was ambushed in a friend's East El Paso apartment while showering, and was stabbed repeatedly during an attempted robbery sparked over drugs.
Seven years later, Croke's family was able to address the killers during the sentencing hearing.
This is an update to KVIA's Borderland Crimes podcast episode available in this feed from May 2022, called "We Feel Victimized All Over Again."
Learn about the family Kjersten Croke thanked during the District Attorney's news conference in the two episodes found here and here.

Kimberly Esparza was walking home with her husband after watching a football game at a bar Sunday night when she was hit by a car and killed. The driver left the scene, and Esparza, a 32-year-old mother of two, died on the street.
More than 12 years after her death, Esparza's oldest daughter is trying to get to the bottom of what happened. She not only wants the driver to come forward, but she also questions the police report that her mother lay down on the road before she was hit. The daughter claims there is evidence casting doubt on the narrative given by the sole witness to the deadly hit-and-run.
This is still an open investigation. If you have information on the hit-and-run that killed Kimberly Esparza on Nov. 7, 2011, call Crime Stoppers at (915) 566-8477.
If you are in an abusive relationship, call the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence at (915) 593-7300.
The YWCA also offers the Transitional Living Center for women in need of emergency shelter. They can be reached at (915) 519-0000. 

Jennifer Ann Crecente, 18, was a high school senior and preparing to graduate with honors. On Feb. 15, 2006, she was shot to death by a former boyfriend. Friends and family knew he was controlling, manipulative and later, learned about how he was verbally abusive.
Despite having a felony criminal history and evidence showing he planned the shooting, Justin Crabbe was granted a plea deal of 35 years behind bars. His first parole hearing was in Aug. 2023.
Jennifer's family, including her grandmother in El Paso, now works to prevent more dating violence among teens, as well as fights to keep the killer behind bars for his full sentence.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
Learn the warning signs and help spread awareness among teens by visiting Jennifer Ann's Group: jenniferann.org
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text the El Paso Center Against Sexual & Family Violence at (915) 593-7300. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is (800) 799-7233. 
 

El Pasoan Maria Luisa Corral was found dead on April 29, 2005.


The 20-year-old had been beaten and strangled; her lifeless body was shoved inside a bedroom closet of the Lower Valley home belonging to the mother of Corral's boyfriend, 19-year-old Richard Flores. 


Flores had thrown himself a birthday party at the house the night before, and was nowhere to be found. 


With a history of violence between the couple, El Paso police suspected Flores killed Corral. 


He ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison.


This is a tragic case of dating violence. The couple had been together off-and-on for four years. They had three children, all under the age of three at the time of the murder, who were suddenly without parents.


Nearly 20 years since Corral's murder, one of their daughters, now 21, opens up about her mom, and why she wants people to know what happened.


If you or someone you know needs help, call or text the El Paso Center Against Sexual & Family Violence at (915) 593-7300. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is (800) 799-7233. 

ABC-7 anchor and Borderland Crimes podcast producer Stephanie Valle served as a media witness to an execution in Huntsville, TX.
On Dec. 4, 2001, the man behind a chilling crime that stunned the El Paso community was arrested. David Renteria was charged with capital murder in the death of Alexandra Flores, 5, who had gone missing more than two weeks earlier from the Lower Valley Walmart.
Renteria was ultimately convicted and sentenced to death. That sentence was carried out on Nov. 16, 2023.
The only English-language broadcast journalist from El Paso to be in the prison chronicled the lead-up to the lethal injection and the aftermath.
This is an update to Borderland Crimes Podcast 11: Lured from the Toy Aisle - The Kidnapping and Murder of Alexandra Flores.