In the quiet, rural landscape north of Pasco, Washington, a mother of nine began to prepare a meal on the morning of March 28, 2019. Fifty-four-year-old Estela Torres-Rodriguez was at her home on Orchard Road, a place she shared with one of her sons and his girlfriend. They last saw her in the kitchen, cooking a chicken, before they left for a couple of hours. When they returned, a sense of unease filled the home. The chicken was burning in a pot on the stove, and Estela was nowhere to be found. Her vehicle, a 2006 Buick Rendezvous, was also missing, adding to the growing concern of her family. The initial search of the residence by family members revealed a disturbing scene; blood was discovered, pointing to a violent and unsettling disappearance.
The investigation by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office quickly transitioned from a missing person case to a homicide investigation. Evidence discovered within the home strongly suggested a violent attack had occurred. Suspicion soon fell upon Estela's estranged husband, Tiburcio Larios Rodriguez, and one of her sons, Clemente Rodriguez Torres. Estela and her husband of 30 years had recently separated, and despite his wishes to reconcile, she had repeatedly refused. Investigators believe the two men confronted and killed Estela before attempting to clean the scene. About a week after she vanished, her abandoned Buick Rendezvous was discovered at the Hatton Coulee Rest Area along Highway 395, north of Connell. This discovery prompted extensive searches by law enforcement and volunteers on foot, on horseback, and with drones across miles of rural terrain, but tragically, there was no sign of Estela. First-degree murder charges were filed against both her husband and son.
For years, Estela’s family held onto hope for answers and closure. Their painful wait was compounded by the fact that those believed to be responsible had fled. In September 2019, Clemente Rodriguez Torres was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents when he tried to re-enter the country from Mexico. He was eventually sentenced after admitting to helping hide his mother's body and assisting his father's escape to Mexico, where Tiburcio Larios Rodriguez is still believed to be hiding. The search for Estela continued, with detectives persistently following any potential leads. Then, more than four years after she was last seen, a crucial tip led investigators to a specific plot of land five miles outside of Connell. In July 2023, they discovered Estela's remains in a shallow grave, finally bringing an end to the agonizing search. The case, which began with a burning pot on a stove, is a heartbreaking story of domestic violence that led to the loss of a beloved mother and grandmother. While one son has been held accountable for his role, the family still awaits the capture and prosecution of her estranged husband.
Last Seen: Mar 28, 2019
