MICO, Texas – Two people were charged with capital murder after the bodies of a husband and wife were found in a ravine near Medina Lake, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.
Cassandra Lange, 29, and Joby Williams, 30, are accused of killing Cherry Rehbein, 54, and her husband, Stephen Rehbein, 58. Lange is the biological daughter of Cherry Rehbein, the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff Randy Brown said his office believes the murders occurred Monday evening at the couple’s home in the 3300 block of County Road 265 in Mico.
Investigators believe Cherry Rehbein was killed first, Brown said, while Stephen Rehbein was killed when he returned home from work.
The medical examiner is working to determine the official cause of death, but the sheriff said investigators recovered multiple weapons and that strangulation and a knife were involved.
The investigation began Wednesday, April 8, when a coworker requested a welfare check from the sheriff’s office, concerned that Stephen Rehbein had not shown up for work.
Deputies were dispatched to the residence and arrived around 1 p.m. No one answered the door, but Brown said a deputy found bloody items in a trash can at the curb.
Criminal investigators were called to the scene and found additional evidence suggesting a crime had occurred, according to a news release.
A search warrant was obtained, and investigators identified vehicles belonging to the Rehbeins, the release said.
Using available technology, Brown said authorities tracked one of the vehicles to the Corpus Christi area. The Corpus Christi Police Department’s gang unit located and stopped the vehicle Wednesday afternoon.
Lange and Williams were inside the vehicle, the release said, along with two children — a 6-year-old girl and a 1-month-old infant.
Lange is the biological mother to both children, but Williams is only the biological father to the infant. The girl was transferred to her father’s custody, while the infant remains in Child Protective Services’ custody.
Williams had a fresh hand wound requiring stitches, which he had received at a medical facility in San Antonio.
A Medina County chief deputy and a Texas Ranger traveled to Corpus Christi to interview the suspects.
Lange confessed that she and Williams had killed her mother and stepfather and disposed of their bodies in a ravine, according to Brown. Williams initially gave an inconsistent account, Brown said.
Both suspects were taken into custody by approximately 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 — roughly six hours after the initial welfare call.
Once Lange confessed and said that the bodies had been dumped, Brown said Medina County investigators immediately began searching ravines and dry creek beds in the Medina Lake area.
Early Thursday morning, April 9, a deputy spotted what appeared to be trash along FM 1283, near Medina Lake.
After pushing through cedar brush and descending approximately 73 feet into a deep ravine — not visible from the roadway — deputies found two large black garbage bags containing the bodies of the victims.
Fire personnel assisted in recovering the bodies, which were transported to the medical examiner’s office for autopsy.
Brown said items were stolen from the residence — including guns, money, tools and the victims’ vehicle — but could not speculate on the motive.
Investigators are working to trace stolen firearms and checking pawn shops for other missing property.
Lange and William’s were initially set at $200,000 or less, but were later increased to a $1 million surety.
As of the Friday news conference, Williams remained in Nueces County Jail pending transfer to Medina County. Lange was transported back to Medina County the night of April 8.
Brown said the investigation is ongoing.
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