Melissa Banda Wiki – Biography
Melissa Banda, A McAllen woman found dead on Friday night, a day after her ex-husband allegedly abducted her.
Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra announced on Twitter that investigators of McAllen dead Friday night in rural Hidalgo County.
Investigators “discovered her lifeless body east of FM 493 on Mile 14 1/2 N,” Guerra tweeted at 2:36 a.m. Saturday. “HCSO Major Crimes Unit will take lead on the Capital Murder Investigation.”
Melissa Banda Age
Melissa Banda has died at the age of 37 years.
Husband
Officers identified Melissa Banda, 37, of McAllen as the woman involved, according to the news release. They also identified her ex-husband, Richard Ford, 40, of McAllen as a suspect in her apparent abduction.
Banda and Ford were married in July 2008, according to Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office records available online. They apparently divorced; Hidalgo County doesn’t make divorce records available online.
Banda had obtained a protective order against Ford, according to the news release. Despite the protective order, Banda accused Ford of contacting her on June 30.
“The victim reported ‘her ex-husband, Richard Ford … called her … [that] morning … when answering the call Richard stayed quiet on the line … there is currently a protection order which prohibits him from making any contact with her,’” according to the news release.
Police investigated the incident with assistance from the FBI and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
Police determined the car used in the apparent abduction was a rental car. They found Ford’s car near the McAllen airport, according to the news release. Officers determined the car used in the apparent abduction, a white Dodge SUV, was “at or near Beach Access 5 at South Padre Island.”
Cameron County law enforcement officers approached the car and arrested Ford, who had outstanding warrants for violation of a court order and harassment.
Missing
Police say on June 30, Banda reported that Ford had called her. She informed police that there was a protective order prohibiting Ford from making contact with her and provided the court documents.
Ford is being held at the Cameron County Jail on the charges mentioned above, charges associated with this missing person incident are pending, said the release.
The suspect vehicle was identified as a Dodge SUV. Police found the suspect vehicle to be a rental car. Ford’s personal vehicle was later found at the McAllen airport. Authorities then found the Dodge SUV near Beach Access 5 at South Padre Island.
Authorities approached the vehicle and arrested Ford. The release adds, at the time of the arrest Ford had two active warrants for violation of a court order and harassment.
Cause of Death
Investigators found a 37-year-old McAllen woman dead on Friday night, a day after her ex-husband allegedly abducted her.
Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra announced on Twitter that investigators found Melissa Banda, 37, of McAllen dead Friday night in rural Hidalgo County.
Investigators “discovered her lifeless body east of FM 493 on Mile 14 1/2 N,” Guerra tweeted at 2:36 a.m. Saturday. “HCSO Major Crimes Unit will take lead on the Capital Murder Investigation.”
Investigation
The investigation started at 3:49 p.m. Thursday when the McAllen Police Department dispatched officers to a disturbance on the 7100 blocks of North 7th Street.
“Upon arrival, officers were informed that male suspect(s) ‘forced female [the victim] … and put her in … SUV,’” according to a news release from the police department.
