On December 11, 2017, 29-year-old Robert Cerda and his girlfriend, Rachel Delarosa, also 29, were on a date in the Spring Branch area of Houston, Texas. After dining at Connie's restaurant, they walked to a nearby barbershop known as a local hangout spot. Inside, Cerda engaged in conversation with acquaintances when Herbert James Simon, 42, unexpectedly shot him multiple times, resulting in his death. Delarosa was forcibly brought into the barbershop and held against her will.
Subsequently, Josue Casco, another individual present, compelled her into his vehicle, drove to a rural area near Fresno, and fatally shot her with the same firearm used to kill Cerda. Delarosa's body was discovered approximately 90 minutes after their dinner, and Cerda's body was found the following day in a rural area of north Houston near the Eastex Freeway.
ABC13
The case remained unsolved until 2022, when a tipster provided crucial information leading to the arrests of Simon and Casco. In June 2024, after a five-day trial, Simon was convicted of murder and aggravated kidnapping, receiving two life sentences. Casco, already in federal custody for unrelated charges, is expected to be returned to Harris County to face trial for capital murder.
HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
The tragic deaths of Cerda and Delarosa underscore the importance of community involvement in solving cold cases. The breakthrough in this case highlights how new information can significantly impact the pursuit of justice, bringing closure to grieving families and reinforcing the commitment of law enforcement to resolve such heinous crimes.
