What happened to Liliana Reyes? Details about The Chicano Squad subject explored

The Chicano Squad is a groundbreaking A&E docuseries that revisits notable cases from the late 1970s like the one involving Liliana Reyes which prompted the Houston Police Department to assemble the first all-Latino homicide unit.

The initiative was a response to the rising crime rates and unsolved murders within the Latino community at that point in time. The series premiered on September 2, 2024, depicting several high-profile cases while the second episode aired on September 3, 2024, focuses specifically on the harrowing kidnapping of Liliana Reyes.

In 1987, 14-month-old Liliana Reyes was kidnapped from her home in Houston, Texas by a woman who had sought shelter with the Reyes family.

The woman was identified as Aajdee Olivia Gill, who was a transient from Puebla, Mexico, who took advantage of the family's hospitality. During the night she abducted Liliana from her crib while the household slept. The case quickly escalated as Gill moved south potentially back to Mexico.

Liliana's plight caught the attention of the Chicano Squad, particularly detectives Raymond Gonzales and Jose Selvera who spearheaded the investigation. Through relentless efforts and cooperation with Mexican authorities, the squad managed to track Gill down.

With financial support from a local media outlet in exchange for exclusive coverage Marina Reyes, Liliana's mother accompanied by the detectives, traveled to Mexico. The emotional reunion culminated in the safe recovery of Liliana who was then returned to her family in Houston.

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How did The Chicano Squad save Liliana Reyes?

Noir (Image sourced from Unsplash)

The case was swiftly taken up by the Chicano Squad which was a unit within the Houston Police Department set up to address crime within the Latino community.

The detectives first gathered all available information about the suspect, Aajdee Gill starting with her background and her recent interactions in the community.

Their investigation led them to communicate with Aajdee’s mother who was still in Mexico. It was through this critical connection that the detectives were able to confirm the suspect’s movements toward Mexico which was a crucial moment that defined the subsequent actions of the squad. Realizing the need for swift cross-border cooperation, they coordinated with Mexican law enforcement agencies to track down Aajdee and recover Liliana Reyes.

The reunion was facilitated largely due to the cooperation of the local authorities and the information provided by Aajdee’s mother, who understood the gravity of her daughter’s actions and assisted the police.

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You can watch the 2nd episode on September 3, 2024 on A&E.