Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office is offering a reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to the arrest of Reynaldo Mata-Rios. This announcement follows the death of Eddy Betancourt, vice chairman of the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board of Directors and an appointee by Governor Abbott to the Texas Facilities Commission. Betancourt was found dead on December 27, 2025. The McAllen Police Department issued a warrant for Mata-Rios’ arrest for murder the following day.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has placed Mata-Rios on its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. According to law enforcement, Mata-Rios is described as a Hispanic male, about six feet tall and weighing 195 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. He was reportedly seen crossing into Mexico in a red truck on December 28, 2025. Authorities warn that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Governor Abbott addressed the incident by saying: “Cecilia and I mourn the tragic loss of Commissioner Eddy Betancourt, and we pray for his family and loved ones. The State of Texas remains in regular coordination with local law enforcement to provide all necessary resources to ensure those responsible face the consequences of their actions and the full weight of the law for this heinous crime. I encourage Texans with information relating to this crime to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online. With the public’s help, we will capture those responsible and put them behind bars.”
To qualify for a cash reward, individuals must provide tips through one of several methods: calling the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), submitting a web tip via the Texas 10 Most Wanted website, or submitting a tip online. The law guarantees anonymity for all callers regardless of how they submit their tips; instead of using names, tipsters are assigned numbers.
Officials remind citizens not to attempt apprehending fugitives themselves due to safety concerns.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott leads statewide executive efforts focused on issues such as economic development, border security initiatives like Operation Lone Star, job creation programs, education improvement policies, community projects, individual liberties protection, parental empowerment in schools, and collaboration with organizations including Southwest Airlines on state economic expansion initiatives (https://gov.texas.gov/). Since his election in 2014 as head of this office based at Austin’s State Insurance Building (https://gov.texas.gov/), Greg Abbott has been recognized nationally—including being named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024 (https://gov.texas.gov/).
