Death details murky in BP Agent's death, may have fallen into culvert

By Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat

Information remains elusive regarding the deaths of border officer, Rogelio Martinez, 36 years old, and his partner. The FBI has taken over the case.

Martinez and his partner were patrolling near, highway 10,  from the Van Horn, Texas station , investigating suspicious activities near the expansive Big Bend National Park.  What exactly happened subsequently, is a mystery to the public.

Initially, far right news outlets such as Breitbart were quick to insist the attack was by “illegal aliens", most reports indicated the attack was from gunfire.  Authorities were compelled to discount gunfire but did not give an alternative method of attack, or even say there was an attack.  Breitbart then reported the Border Patrol Union stated, there was an attack by illegals, by ambush, with rocks.

However, that was proven to be untrue, posted on their website is a message that the cause is still undetermined.

Late yesterday, yet another possibility was given when it was determined that accident had not been ruled out, that the men may have fallen into the culvert by mishap. This would explain why neither officer drew their weapons during this time.  The unnamed survivor has amnesia since the accident; by the time help arrived he was in poor condition and no recall of the incident.

Rio Grande flows through Big Bend

The surviving officer, radioed for help from the culvert.  What was said by the officer has not been made public.

BP patrol officers are require to patrol in pairs, as the number of officers remains inadequate and are literally hours apart from each other.

The area is near Big Bend National Park, whose rugged, flat faced clifts, and steep inclines, make it almost impossible to use as a corridor for immigrant traffickers, although where the officers were sent, there is a narco corridor.  Narcos are well area of  how long it takes when responding to an emergency call out.

Jose Martinez, The father of a U.S. Border Patrol agent who died, says his son suffered serious injuries that left his head “destroyed.”  While speaking with the El Paso Times on Monday, he shared that doctors said his son, 36-year-old Rogelio Martinez, suffered repeated cardiac arrest before he died Sunday.  He said he discouraged his son from working in such a dangerous profession but the father said his son was determine to do what he could in fighting against drug trafficking and potential terrorists.

President Trump, when hearing about the tragedy, reminded lawmakers of the necessity of a border wall.  In this particular area however, a physical wall would be impossible,  any wall constructed in the area, would have to be a virtual wall, using surveillance technology. 

The final construction of any “Border Wall”, will be a probable mix of physical and virtual components.  

Update @ 1:33AM November 22:  

Blasting CNN report,   and not giving any other details, union spokesman says;

Chris Cabrera, the spokesman for the National Border Patrol Union, told Laura Ingraham on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” on Tuesday that CNN’s story doesn’t make sense if you look at the area in Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas where the agents were found.

Big Bend is apx 120 miles of the border

Big Bend Sector woefully understaffed, response times are in the hours, and officers hours apart.

Below from BP

Release Date: November 19, 2017:

A U.S. Border Patrol agent died this morning as a result of injuries sustained while on patrol in the Big Bend Sector.

Border Patrol agents from Big Bend Sector and the Culberson County Sheriff’s Department secured the scene. The Border Patrol’s Special Operations Group and agents from CBP’s Air and Marine Operations are searching the area for potential suspects or witnesses.

The entire operational area covers 165,154 square miles. (with a staff of 511)

How many Border Patrol Agents patrol this area?

According to figures from the U.S. Border Patrol, a total of 511 agents were working in the Big Bend Sector in 2016.

The other four Border Patrol Sectors Texas all have almost as many at least three times as many agents as Big Bend.

Del Rio: 1,439

El Paso: 2,240

Laredo: 1,670

Rio Grande Valley: 3,135

Note:  below are the statements from the BP agents union and US Customs and Border patrol.  The statements have never changed and remain so today 11.27.17.  CLICK TO ENLARGE