DNA test proves arm belongs

MISSION - Authorities say an arm discovered in a rural Willacy County canal belonged to a woman whose husband and stepson have already been charged with her murder.

Josefina Lugo, of Mission, was reported missing Aug. 23.

The arm was found three days later, when local and federal officials surveying damage from Hurricane Dolly found the appendage floating beneath a canal bridge about five miles northeast of Raymondville.

Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence first learned Friday night that the arm matched Josefina Lugo's DNA, he said.

Now that the arm has been identified, investigators will continue to search the area for further evidence, Mission Police Chief Leo Longoria said."It confirms and corroborates on the evidence that we're securing," Longoria said of the DNA match.

Authorities said they still do not know the location of Josefina's body, nor how the arm became detached.

Mission police say their investigation into Josefina's disappearance had pointed to rural Willacy County even before the arm was found.

Based on that investigation, a grand jury indicted Pedro Lugo and his son, Javier, with the 68-year-old woman's murder Sept. 18, even though her body had not been found.

The DNA test results came back about three weeks after investigators said they sent them in.

Pedro Lugo's attorney, Ricardo Salinas of Mission, said he thought the turnaround was too fast to be accurate.

Salinas said he did not expect to see the DNA results until late November and questions how clearly the samples matched up.

"This whole process was very rushed," Salinas said of the investigation. "I hope they were not trying to bridge a gap."

Mission police are keeping much of their investigation close to their vest, but Josefina and Pedro Lugo had filed for divorce in July.

Less than a week after Josefina Lugo vanished, police said Pedro Lugo had withdrawn a large sum of money and boarded a bus destined for San Luis Potos-, S.L.P., Mexico. Before he left, he gave his son, Javier Lugo, power of attorney over his estate.

Pedro Lugo, 72, later returned to the United States and was arrested Sept. 18. He was charged with one count of murder in Hidalgo County District Court.

Javier Lugo, 45, was also charged with murder. He also faces charges of tampering with evidence in the police investigation into Josefina's disappearance. Pre-trial hearings for both Lugo men's cases are set for later this month.

"They're accusing me of something I haven't done," Pedro Lugo said after his son's arraignment at the Hidalgo County Courthouse.

Josefina's relatives had set a $5,000 reward for information regarding her whereabouts when she disappeared.

"It brings a little closure," Spence said, "but not a whole lot."