Inspector Richard Mack Latham

Richard Mack Latham

On Friday, January 27, 1984, four men committed a jewelry robbery in Cuidad Acuna, Mexico, and crossed into the United States at the Del Rio, Texas international bridge. Inspector Richard M. Latham inspected the van and saw the stolen jewelry. The men pulled weapons and kidnapped the federal officer.

The body of Inspector Latham was found outside of the border city of Eagle Pass, Maverick County, in a ditch about 200 yards off Highway 277 and north of Eagle Pass around noon on Saturday, January 28, 1984. Latham, wearing his uniform, was handcuffed, and had been murdered with his own service weapon. It was determined that Inspector Latham was executed with a shot to his back.

Two of the men hired a taxi to drive them from Eagle Pass to Presidio. State troopers stopped the taxi near Dryden, Terrell County, about 140 miles from Eagle Pass. Rafael Calderon, 26, surrendered and Jesus Reyes Ramirez, 26, committed suicide by shooting himself with Latham's .357 magnum pistol. Calderon surrendered.

Samuel Olguin-Mato, 27, and Ricardo Cortez, 21, were later arrested in Mexico and charged along with Rafael Calderon. Calderon was sentenced to life in prison and Olguin-Mato and Cortez were sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Inspector Latham was buried in the Westlawn Cemetery in Del Rio. His grandfather, Inspector James Wallen, was shot and killed near the same port of entry on March 6, 1923.