Hidalgo man to be arraigned for the death of his ‘severely beaten’ wife

Luis Antonio Rivera seen during his arraignment in Hidalgo on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (Xavier Alvarez | [email protected])

A grand jury indicted a Hidalgo man for allegedly killing his wife with an unknown object, and he is set to be arraigned Wednesday morning, according to court documents.

Earlier this month, a grand jury indicted Luis Antonio Rivera, 46, on a murder charge for the death of Edna Liliana Rivera.

Many of the details surrounding her death have not been publicly revealed, including the object Rivera used to strike her or who found her body. But according to an initial news release, Hidalgo police responded to a domestic disturbance at 2308 Monterrey Street at about 12:40 a.m. on Aug. 30.

Family members at the scene told responding officers that their dad had killed their mom.

Authorities have yet to release the names and ages of Rivera’s children.

According to a probable cause affidavit, a witness in the murder investigation said there was a “heated argument” between couple before the witness found Edna Rivera’s body “severely beaten.”

“Officers obtained witness statements, placing [Edna] and [Luis] in a heated argument in their bedroom,” the affidavit said. “A witness stated that after the altercation, [Luis] exited the bedroom and Edna was no longer heard from.”

The same witness who found Edna’s body said that Rivera fled the scene in Edna’s 2011 silver Ford Focus.

He was arrested the following day in Rio Grande City at about 4:30 p.m.

Rivera remained jailed Tuesday at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on a $2 million bond.