SAN ANTONIO – Known by many as Rudy, the body of Rodolfo Mendiola IV was discovered Sunday at his father’s house on Trawalter Road, not far from where his dad’s truck was found abandoned on the railroad tracks along Luckey Road.
A veteran working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan, Mendiola’s father is being flown back to be with his family, said Christine Ortega, the victim’s maternal aunt.
Described by his aunt as a “brilliant, brilliant young man,” Ortega said they’re at a loss as to who would want to murder the 22-year-old, who was studying computer science engineering as a junior at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
However, James Keith, spokesperson for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said, “We’ve been receiving quite a few leads,” several of them from KSAT-12 viewers.
“So far they seem to be legitimate, so we’re hoping that we will be able to develop even stronger information as a result of those tips,” Keith said.
He said the abandoned truck’s registration led deputies to the house, where they found Mendiola had been shot in the head and beaten.
“There also was a report of suspicious people who were near that truck, walking in the area,” Keith said.
Ortega said her nephew had a rare quality, but whether it was a factor in his murder is unknown.
“The main characteristic about Rudy was he was humble, always was thinking about other people before him,” Ortega said. “He was very soft-hearted, so if somebody was in distress, he was the first one to jump in to help.”
Keith said it’s too early to say what may have led up to his death. He said investigators are looking at the possibility Mendiola may have known his attacker or perhaps there was an earlier robbery or burglary at the house.
Ortega said she was relieved to hear that people are contacting the Sheriff’s Office about her nephew’s murder, but more tips are needed.
She said, “If there’s any information that you have, please share it.”
Anyone with information can call 210-335-TIPS or 210-224-STOP.