Anthony Powe, a 25-year-old resident of Houston, Texas, died on April 9, 2009, as part of an incident that remained unresolved for many years. Initially, the case ran cold due to a lack of leads. However, new evidence brought the case back into focus in recent years. Investigators working on the cold case eventually connected Jorge Trevino Cardenas to the murder through DNA evidence collected from the scene. The DNA testing revealed a match between Cardenas and samples found at the crime scene, which included blood on both the victim's clothing and other locations nearby. Cardenas was charged with the murder in 2023 and was later convicted by a jury following a four-day trial. He received a life sentence for the crime and must serve at least 30 years before becoming eligible for parole.
The violent altercation occurred at an auto shop in the Alief area of Houston. During the incident, Powe was fatally stabbed multiple times with a long, serrated knife. Blood evidence collected from the scene revealed that Cardenas likely cut himself during the attack, leaving traces of his DNA alongside that of the victim. Witnesses also testified that Cardenas, who lived near the shop, was often seen carrying a similar knife. Despite the cold-case status of the investigation for several years, the relentless pursuit of new evidence by the Houston Police Department’s Cold Case Squad led to a breakthrough that eventually helped secure justice for the victim and his family.
