Robert Cerda, a 29-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically found shot to death on December 12, 2017, in Houston, Texas. His body was discovered in a ditch near the Eastex Freeway in northeast Houston. The autopsy confirmed that he had been shot. Cerda was last seen alive on December 11, 2017, at a gas station in Spring Branch, where he was on a date with his girlfriend, Rachel Delarosa.
The couple had just left Connie's restaurant and were captured on surveillance video at the gas station, appearing happy and playful. Later that evening, Delarosa was found fatally shot in Missouri City, while Cerda's body was discovered the following day in Houston.
The investigation into their deaths revealed that Cerda and Delarosa were both shot with the same gun. Witnesses reported that Cerda was killed at a hair salon on Long Point in Spring Branch, where he had gone to use the restroom. It was there that he encountered Josue Casco, a man with whom he had previous conflicts. Casco, along with Herbert James Simon, was implicated in the murders. Simon, who was on parole at the time, was accused of shooting Cerda, while Casco allegedly took Delarosa and later shot her in Missouri City.
In August 2022, nearly five years after the murders, significant progress was made in the case. Josue Casco was charged with capital murder, and Herbert James Simon was charged with murder. Simon was already serving a sentence for aggravated robbery, and Casco was in federal custody for a separate case. The arrests brought some relief to Cerda's family, who had been seeking justice for years. Simon was eventually convicted of murder and aggravated kidnapping, receiving two life sentences for his role in the killings. Casco's trial for his part in the double murder is still pending.
The case had gone cold until a tipster came forward in 2022, providing crucial information that led to the arrests. The families of Robert Cerda and Rachel Delarosa continue to seek closure and justice for their loved ones, hoping that the full truth will eventually come to light.
