Los Jefes Amusement

Bars located next to railroad tracks typically make for a memorable visit. There's something about enjoying a cold beverage with the sound of piercing airhorn and tonnes of steel lumbering by. But in Cotulla, you'll encounter a tracks-adjacent joint that's remembered for a different reason.

The place is Los Jefes (aka Jefes Amusement) a deteriorating video-slots lounge with painted flames on its exterior and metal bars covering the windows and doors. On July 8, 2011, the body of a deceased victim was found nearby face-down, a few yards from the tracks. According to a 2016 article by John MacCormack for the 'San Antonio Express-News', the dead man was identified as Alfredo Guerrero, an oil field worker who moved to Cotulla because of the Eagle Ford Shale oil boom.

An initial autopsy concluded Guerrero died from a train accident. But rumors started to spread. Locals gossiped that Guerrero was actually killed for participating in an affair. Investigators found that Guerrero lived in an RV not far from the tracks and had been drinking at Los Jefes the night of the incident.

Things stalled out for a bit. But in 2014, and indictment came through for Horace “Colt” Ringer and Justin “Levi” Ringer. Police claimed the brothers had beaten Guerrero to death over a drug deal gone wrong and dumped the body at the tracks. There was also a witness that testified Levi Ringer had told him he killed Guerrero. An audio recording backed up the claim.

The problem was that two witnesses contradicted Levi's boasting and placed him in Smithville on the night of the murder. He had an alibi. So, after a year and a half in jail awaiting trial (the brothers couldn't make $500,000 bond), a jury found Levi and Colt not guilty.

Was it the right verdict? Someone, somewhere knows the truth. But I'd advise not to look for it if you visit Los Jefes. Instead, grab a cold beer from the surprisingly friendly barkeep (the beer is free; you'll have to spend some dollars on the games) and kick back while Journey blares in the background and trains roar by. I'd bet my wallet you won't forget it.