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Brazoria County, Breaking News, Investigations, Paul Taylor Jr., Rebecca Beard, Texas Cold Cases, Texas Crime, Texas News, True Crime

No body found after four-hour excavation near cemetery in Rebecca Beard murder case

October 21, 2026 Tammy Rose Leave a comment

By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

Nearly 40 years after Rebecca Beard’s murder, a four-hour excavation near a Brazoria County cemetery ended without the discovery of her remains.

The search followed a disturbing claim from a witness who says she watched the 22-year-old woman buried alive in 1986.

While I was in Dubai, a nearby property owner contacted me about repeated visits by retired Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office investigator John Blankenship. The owner also claimed he witnessed suspicious activity in the area around the time Beard disappeared.

Shortly after Blankenship spoke with the property owner, a search took place with assistance from Texas EquuSearch.

According to a source familiar with the operation, nothing was found.

Witness claims she watched Rebecca Beard buried alive

Wooded area near a Brazoria County cemetery where a witness claims Rebecca Beard was buried in 1986. — **Area near the cemetery identified as a possible burial site in the Rebecca Beard murder investigation.**

In January 2026, a woman came forward with a disturbing account of what she claims happened nearly 40 years earlier.

She alleged that she was present the night Beard was killed in March 1986.

According to the witness, she followed the suspects from the Excalibur Club in Freeport to an area near a cemetery.

There, she claims, she watched them bury Beard alive.

The witness identified a possible burial location near the cemetery.

Her allegations remain unverified. No publicly confirmed physical evidence has established that Beard was buried at that location.

Nevertheless, her account brought renewed attention to an area connected to one of Brazoria County’s longest-running murder mysteries.

District attorney’s investigators questioned witness credibility

Recreation of the clothing Rebecca Beard was reportedly wearing when she disappeared in Freeport, Texas, in March 1986. — **Recreation showing Rebecca “Becky” Beard wearing clothing similar to what she reportedly wore the night she disappeared in 1986.**

Beard’s family later met with representatives of the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office and investigators to discuss the witness’s allegations.

During a recorded meeting, investigators explained why they did not believe the woman’s account.

They said she had changed parts of her story.

According to investigators, those inconsistencies raised concerns about her credibility.

Despite the witness’s claims, investigators did not consider her account reliable.

However, the question of where Beard’s remains are located remains unanswered.

Property owner contacts reporter about activity near cemetery

Property near a Brazoria County cemetery where a search took place in connection with the 1986 Rebecca Beard murder investigation. — **Vehicles and search personnel gather near the cemetery following renewed interest in a possible burial location for Rebecca “Becky” Beard.**

While I was in Dubai in October 2026, a property owner near the cemetery contacted me about several visits by retired Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office investigator John Blankenship.

The owner said Blankenship had been looking near the area where a witness claimed Rebecca Beard was buried in 1986.

During our conversation, the owner revealed that he had witnessed suspicious activity in the same area around the time Beard disappeared.

However, he said he initially believed the activity might involve satanic rituals or the burial of animals. He had previously noticed activity in the area that led him to that suspicion.

At the time, he did not believe he had witnessed anything connected to a murder. As a result, he never contacted police.

His suspicions remain unverified, and there is no established evidence connecting satanic activity or animal burials to Beard’s murder.

Shortly after Blankenship spoke with the property owner, a search took place near the cemetery.

Four-hour excavation finds nothing

Texas EquuSearch personnel examine excavated soil during a search near a Brazoria County cemetery in the Rebecca Beard murder case.

Texas EquuSearch was brought in to assist with the search near the Brazoria County cemetery.

Photographs show excavation equipment removing soil while search personnel carefully examined the ground by hand.

The search focused on an area near where a witness claimed Rebecca Beard was buried alive in 1986.

The operation lasted approximately four hours.

Despite the extensive digging, a source familiar with the search said nothing was found.

Nearly 40 years after Beard’s murder, her remains are still missing.

The latest search has not resolved the questions surrounding her disappearance or the witness’s allegations.

Rebecca Beard disappeared after visiting Freeport nightclub

Rebecca Beard was just 22 years old when she disappeared in March 1986.

She had visited the Excalibur Club in Freeport before vanishing.

Her disappearance left behind a young daughter and a family desperate for answers.

In 1995, Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty to her murder.

However, Beard’s body was never recovered.

Over the years, investigators examined evidence connected to the Excalibur Club and a residence in Clute.

Former investigators also raised questions about evidence discovered during earlier searches.

Despite those investigative efforts, Beard’s remains have never been located.

Family has searched for answers for four decades

For Beard’s mother, Linda Barnes, and sister, Carol Mize, the search has continued for nearly 40 years.

Both have spent decades trying to learn what happened to Becky and where her remains may be.

The latest excavation did not provide the answers they have sought.

Investigators have questioned the cemetery witness’s credibility. The property owner’s account of suspicious activity also remains unverified.

Still, the recent search shows that possible leads continue to emerge decades after Beard’s murder.

The latest excavation raises an important question.

If investigators did not believe the cemetery witness, what prompted renewed interest in the area?

That question remains unanswered.

For Beard’s family, the ultimate goal has not changed.

They want to find Becky and bring her home.

Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose continues investigating the Rebecca Beard murder through public records, interviews, and firsthand accounts. Her documentary, Finding Becky Beard, examines evidence, witness statements, and unanswered questions surrounding the 1986 case. The documentary is available on YouTube.

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Brazoria County, Investigations, Paul Taylor Jr., Rebecca Beard, Texas Cold Cases, True Crime

Rebecca Beard Case: Why I’m Releasing the Rio Witness Account

August 12, 2026 Tammy Rose Leave a comment

Nearly 40 years after Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared from Freeport, Texas, her family is still searching for the answer that matters most.

Where is Becky?

Rebecca Becky Beard, whose 1986 disappearance remains the focus of an ongoing search for answers — **Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared in March 1986. Her family continues searching for information that could help locate her remains.**

Now, her family wants the public to hear information from a woman known as “Rio.” Her account includes disturbing claims about what may have happened to Becky and where someone may have taken her remains.

However, an important warning comes with Rio’s story.

According to Becky’s family, prosecutors recently presented information involving Rio to a Brazoria County grand jury. Family members say the grand jury took no action.

Becky’s family also says the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office told them investigators did not consider Rio a credible witness.

I am not presenting Rio’s statements as established facts.

Still, Becky’s family believes parts of her account could contain accurate information. They hope releasing these details reaches someone who knows what happened or where to find Becky.

Who Was Rebecca “Becky” Beard?

Rebecca “Becky” Beard holding her daughter before her 1986 disappearance — **Rebecca “Becky” Beard pictured with her daughter before Becky disappeared from Freeport, Texas, in March 1986.**

Becky Beard was 22 years old when she disappeared after spending the night at the Excalibur Club in Freeport on March 1, 1986.

She never came home.

Investigators have never recovered her body.

Years later, Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty in connection with Becky’s death. Despite that conviction, her family has spent decades trying to find her remains.

That search continues today.

Who Is the Witness Known as Rio?

Cherie “Rio” Starr standing near Tammy Rose’s Jeep during the Rebecca Beard investigation — **Cherie “Rio” Starr stands near Tammy Rose’s Jeep during an interview connected to the Rebecca “Becky” Beard investigation.**

During my investigation, I tracked down Cherie “Rio” Starr, a woman who has provided an account of events surrounding Becky’s disappearance.

Rio made several specific and disturbing claims. Some involve what allegedly happened to Becky’s body and where people may have taken her remains.

Investigators have not established those claims as fact.

According to Becky’s family, the district attorney told them authorities did not find Rio credible.

Still, one reason the family has not completely dismissed her story is that some details appear to connect with information they already knew about Becky’s life before she disappeared.

The Galveston Weekend in Becky’s Planner

Rebecca “Becky” Beard’s personal planner documenting events before her March 1986 disappearance — **Becky Beard’s personal planner contains entries documenting events and trips in the weeks before her March 1986 disappearance.**

One detail deserves closer examination.

Becky kept a planner. An entry documents a weekend trip to Galveston from February 14 through February 16, 1986, just weeks before she disappeared.

Becky was dating Beaver Aplin at the time.

Rio described an incident involving Aplin during which she said he got down on his knees with a dozen roses, jewelry and bottles.

That detail caught the family’s attention because Becky’s mother, Linda Barnes, already knew about Becky’s Galveston weekend.

Linda recalled Becky returning from the trip and throwing away roses.

Her mother asked her why she was throwing them away.

According to Linda, Becky did not want to talk about it.

That does not prove Rio’s account.

It does, however, raise a question for the family: How much of Rio’s story, if any, could be independently verified?

Becky’s planner documents the Galveston weekend. Her mother remembers the roses. Rio later provided an account involving roses and the man Becky was dating.

The family believes those details are worth examining rather than ignoring.

Family Says Evidence Was Presented to a Grand Jury

Remote dirt road leading through the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, an area referenced in witness accounts and past searches connected to the Rebecca Beard case. — **A remote dirt road in the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge near the area where witness Cherie Lynette “Rio” Starr claims Rebecca “Becky” Beard was buried.**

Becky’s family says prosecutors recently presented evidence involving Rio to a Brazoria County grand jury.

According to family members, the grand jury took no action.

They also say the district attorney told them authorities did not consider Rio a credible witness.

Those details matter.

Rio’s claims are not established facts.

I am not presenting them as proof of what happened to Becky.

Instead, the family wants to know whether someone else can independently confirm any part of her account.

Why Release Rio’s Story?

There is a simple reason.

Becky still has not been found.

Almost four decades have passed since she disappeared. People who were young adults in 1986 are now much older. Some witnesses have died. Properties have changed. Memories have faded.

That makes information from people who were there increasingly important.

The family understands authorities have questioned Rio’s credibility. They also understand that a grand jury took no action after hearing information related to her account, according to what family members say they were told.

Still, they cannot get past the possibility that one detail could be true even if other parts of a witness’s story are not.

The Galveston weekend is one reason they continue asking questions.

Someone May Remember Something

Texas DPS missing person bulletin for Rebecca “Becky” Beard, who disappeared from Freeport, Texas, in March 1986. — **Texas Department of Public Safety missing person bulletin for Rebecca “Becky” Beard, who disappeared in 1986.**

Maybe you were at the Excalibur Club.

Maybe you knew Becky, Paul Taylor Jr., Beaver Aplin or Rio.

Maybe you remember the Galveston weekend in February 1986.

Maybe you heard a conversation afterward.

Or perhaps you know something about a location connected to the case.

The family isn’t asking people to speculate. They are looking for firsthand information that can be independently checked.

If you know something, even if it seemed insignificant at the time, consider coming forward.

After nearly 40 years, Becky’s family isn’t looking for rumors.

They are looking for Becky.

Carol Mize, sister of Rebecca “Becky” Beard, points out areas she has personally searched while continuing efforts to find her sister. — **Carol Mize shows areas she has searched while continuing to look for answers in the 1986 disappearance of her sister, Rebecca “Becky” Beard.**

This article is part of my continuing independent investigation into the disappearance and death of Rebecca “Becky” Beard. Statements attributed to witnesses represent their accounts unless independently corroborated. The inclusion of any person’s name does not imply criminal conduct or involvement in Becky’s death.

Chopper Rose Productions