A routine welfare check in Mico on April 8 spiraled into a capital murder case after deputies discovered an elderly couple dead and allegedly dumped in a ravine. Authorities identified the victims as Stephen and Cherry Rehbein and say one of the suspects is the daughter of one of the victims. Two young children were in the vehicle when officers later detained the adults. Child Protective Services has taken temporary custody with plans to reunite the children with relatives. The investigation remains very much active as deputies work to piece together how the tragedy unfolded.
Welfare Check in Mico Led Deputies to the Home
Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown said deputies headed to the 3300 block of County Road 265 in Mico on April 8 after Stephen Rehbein failed to show up for work, a red flag that prompted the welfare check. Once at the home, investigators found signs that something was seriously wrong and discovered evidence suggesting foul play inside the residence, according to News 4 San Antonio. Deputies obtained a search warrant and used available technology to trace vehicles linked to the Rehbein property, hoping the cars would lead them to the missing couple.
Stop in Corpus Christi, Confession and Recovery of Bodies
One of Stephen Rehbein’s vehicles eventually pinged in the Corpus Christi area and was pulled over for a welfare check. Officers found two adults and two children inside the car. A Medina County chief deputy and a Texas Ranger traveled to Corpus Christi and interviewed the adults. Sheriff Brown said one suspect, identified as the victim’s daughter, confessed that she and an accomplice had killed her mother and stepfather and then disposed of their bodies.
Guided by that information, deputies searched near Medina Lake and carefully surveyed the area. Their search led them to a deep ravine off FM 1283, where they found two large black garbage bags concealed from easy view. ESD fire personnel helped recover the remains from the ravine, and the bodies were transported to the medical examiner’s office for autopsy.
Charges, Custody and the Children
The adults were identified as 29-year-old Cassandra Lange and 32-year-old Joby Williams. Both were taken into custody on April 8 and charged with capital murder of multiple persons. They remain in custody, with bond set at $150,000 for Lange and $200,000 for Williams, according to News 4 San Antonio.
The two children in the car, described as about 6 years old and 1 month old, were placed with Child Protective Services. CPS is in the process of reuniting the children with family members while investigators continue to develop the case in Medina County.
Legal Implications Under Texas Law
Under Texas law, capital murder includes killings that involve more than one victim in the same criminal transaction. A conviction under Texas Public Law for a violation of Texas Penal Code Section 19.03 carries either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty here will be up to county authorities as they review the full body of evidence and the final autopsy findings.
What’s Next
The Medina County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is ongoing and that more information will be released as it becomes available. Court dates, formal charging documents and any decision about pursuing enhanced penalties will move through county prosecutors and a grand jury as the case makes its way into the court system.
