HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – In a remarkable display of persistence and collaboration, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) has successfully solved a cold case dating back to 1997.
Utilizing advancements in DNA technology and working in tandem with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Missing Migrant Program and the Mexican Consulate, the MEO identified the remains of Rodolfo Barcenas Guerrero, whose body was discovered in Tampa nearly three decades ago.
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Barcenas Guerrero was found in the fall of 1997 near the intersection of 43rd Street and 7th Avenue in Tampa. Although he possessed identifying documents such as a Resident Alien Card and a Social Security Card, initial efforts to locate his family proved unsuccessful.
The Hillsborough County MEO currently manages approximately 45 unsolved cold cases spanning the last half-century. While forensic genealogy has become a valuable tool in resolving many of these cases, the identification of Barcenas Guerrero hinged on strategic partnerships and renewed efforts.
The cause and manner of his death were initially ruled undetermined in 1997. At the time, investigators reached out to the Mexican Consulate in hopes of finding his relatives, but the attempts yielded no results.
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However, the pursuit of answers never truly ceased. Last year, the Hillsborough County MEO initiated contact with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, whose Missing Migrant Program readily offered assistance in the search for potential family members.
Building on this momentum, the MEO reconnected with the Mexican Consulate in August 2024, more than 25 years after the initial attempt. This time, the collaboration bore fruit.
Customs and Border Protection’s Missing Migrant program played a crucial role in locating Barcenas Guerrero’s sister in Guanajuato, a state in Mexico northwest of Mexico City. Staff from the Mexican Consulate contacted her, and a submitted cheek swab provided the crucial DNA match.
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Currently, the Mexican Consulate is facilitating the return of Barcenas Guerrero’s cremated remains to his family in Guanajuato, bringing closure to a long-unresolved chapter.
The successful resolution of this 28-year-old case underscores the power of persistent investigation and the impact of collaborative efforts between local agencies and federal and international partners.
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