Autopsy Report Released of Border Patrol Agent Killed in West Texas

VAN HORN, TX. – According to an autopsy report of Agent Rogelio Martinez, the Border Patrol Agent was killed in the line of duty in 2017.

The report, obtained by CBS 7, stated that Agent Martinez died from blunt injuries to the head, but the manner of death remains “undetermined”.

The report stated that Martinez had fractures on his skull and ribs, with lacerations found on his scalp. On November 18, Martinez was on patrol with a fellow agent when both were injured. They were discovered along a culvert next to Interstate 10 near the City of Van Horn then they were taken to the hospital and Martinez passed away shortly after.

The other agent has since been released but has no memory of what happened that day.

Culberson County Sheriff Oscar Carrillo stated that there is belief that both agents were accidentally sideswiped by a tractor-trailer.

“From the beginning, we were radioed to assist in the incident as an injury, not an assault,” Carrillo stated.

“If this was an assault, believe me, as sheriff, I’d be the first one out there emphasizing safety in our community and with our deputies, pairing them up,” he added.

Though, Border Patrol union, the National Border Patrol Council, said that the agents were attacked and struck with a rock or rocks on the side of the road.

It’s not clear why the agents were along the highway when the incident happened and it was reported that the pair “were responding to activity.”

The idea that the agents were sideswiped is just one of many theories and a spokesman states that it is not credible and that the facts show that they were not involved in an accident.