The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking information about the 1995 murder of Celia Loya, 30, on El Paso’s east side. The reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for her death is now increased to $6,000 if the tip is received before the next featured Texas Rangers cold case is announced. Investigators are asking anyone with information about the case to come forward.
On Feb. 7, 1995, Loya, an officer manager at American Sling, called to let colleagues know she would be late to work that day – but she never arrived. Unable to reach her, Loya’s husband rushed to their home along Lake Champlain Street to check on her. There he discovered Loya’s body on the bathroom floor, severely beaten. She had died from extensive blood loss stemming from blunt force trauma injuries to the head and body. Signs of an apparent struggle were also found in the living room.
In the years after Loya’s murder, investigators developed and followed several leads, conducted several interviews, and continued to examine evidence collected from the scene to determine who entered the residence and killed her – but no arrests have ever been made.
Now, over three decades later, the El Paso Police Department and the Texas Rangers are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate Loya’s murder. Authorities believe members of the community may have critical information that could solve this case, including details about Loya’s activities and whereabouts leading up to her death, particularly anyone who may have seen her or been in the area during the morning of the murder. Investigators are also interested in any tips about individuals who may have witnessed suspicious activity or have information about the circumstances surrounding her death.
To be eligible for cash rewards for this case, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of these two methods:
- Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
- Submit a tip online through this link only and select “Cold Cases Featured” and “Cold Case” in the type of crime and offense type sections.
As part of a DPS public awareness program, one case from the Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation (Cold Case) Program is featured bi-monthly to generate new investigative leads and bring attention to these cold cases. Texas Crime Stoppers rewards are increased up to $6,000 for featured cases to generate tips. The higher reward will only be paid if the tip is submitted before the next cold case is featured.
The Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program was created to assist Texas law enforcement agencies in investigating unsolved homicides or violent serial crimes. Since there is no statute of limitations for the offense of murder, investigators pursue these cases to a successful resolution or until no viable leads remain.
