Evidentiary hearing scheduled for 2001 Alamo murder case

ALAMO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An evidentiary hearing has been rescheduled to prove the innocence of an Alamo man who was sentenced to life in prison for the 2001 murder of Mary Jane Rebollar.

Rebollar was found dead inside her pickup truck, partially clothed, with multiple stab wounds.

Evidence revealed the pickup truck was abandoned in a field and set on fire with Rebollar's body inside.

Gustavo Mireles, who is now 58, was linked to Rebollar's murder after physical evidence revealed his DNA matched the findings at the crime scene, including hair and bloodstains.

Mireles was convicted of capital murder on Aug. 14, 2002, and sentenced to life in prison for Rebollar's murder.

Since his conviction, Mireles and his family continue to advocate to maintain his innocence of the events that occurred leading up to Rebollar's murder.

Mireles' legal team plans to present a new defense to the judge at the next hearing.

Lead investigator Daryl Parker says there is credible evidence of alternative suspects and violations of the DNA samples found at the crime scene.

"The crime scene specialist collected the crime scene evidence and kept it for four days," Parker said.

Parker says the crime scene specialist should have submitted the evidence within hours, not days.

"Where did [the crime specialist] have it? Did he take it home with him?" Parker said. "The victim's blood, they couldn't even get a result because it was so badly degraded from the heat. But every single sample that identified Morales was a perfect full profile. What is the explanation?"

Rebollar was last seen alive with Mireles on June 21, 2001, at Starz Lounge, a bar located in Donna.

Witnesses at the bar recall Mireles and Rebollar together until closing. Both were seen talking next to Rebollar's pickup truck. It remains unknown if Mireles and Rebollar left the bar together that night.

Two days later, Rebollar's partially burned body was discovered, lying on the floorboard inside her truck.

Mireles and his legal team believe Rebollar was either killed by the same friend who was with her at Starz Lounge the night she was last seen, Delia Rodriguez, or by her partner, Jesus Arce.

"Jesus Arce was the victim's husband, and after she disappeared, he didn't call the police. She was missing for two days, and he never called the police," Parker continued.

When police found Rebollar's body, they found a map in her back pocket leading to Arce's house.

Police went to Arce's house to interview him, but instead found approximately 1,500 pounds of marijuana.

"He gets whisked away. The DEA takes him, and he completely falls out of the investigation. They don't ask about his alibi. There's no recorded interview. They don't take any pictures of any defensive wounds ... Nothing," Parker continued.

The lead investigator believes Arce and Rodriguez were secretly dating at the time of Rebollar's murder.