Murder Charge Filed In Caney River Killing

Rogers County prosecutors charged a Tulsa man with murder in the death of a man whose body was found in his car in the Caney River.

Roman Medrano, 39, faces a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Rafael Hernandez-Torres. 

A truck driver saw Torres' car in the Caney River next to the Highway 169 bridge near Collinsville on the morning of May 1, 2015. 

Once members of the swift water rescue team from Northwest Rogers County Fire Protection District got the car onto shore, they discovered Torres' body in the trunk. He'd been shot several times.

Rogers County deputies arrested Medrano on May 19.

5/19/2015: Related Story: Police Make Arrest Connected To Body Found In Car In Caney River

According to the arrest and booking report, investigators believe the motive was robbery and revenge.

They said Medrano believed Torres had made an advance on Medrano's wife. They say Torres ran a taxi service and usually carried $2,000 with him but they didn't find any money on his person or in his car. 

5/1/2015: Related Story: Family Of Man Found In Caney River Shocked Over Death

Medrano and his wife were months behind on their rent at their Tulsa apartment and had been asking friends for money at the time of the murder, according to the report.

Investigators said Torres was scheduled to pick up a customer and take him to Texas on the night of April 30, 3015. When Torres didn't arrive at the appointed time, he called Torres who told him he was on his way to help a friend who was stranded on the highway. 

According to detectives, cell phone records show Medrano called Torres at 9:15 that night from near the location where Torres' body was found the next morning. They believe Medrano deliberately lured Torres to the area near the river so he could kill him and dump Torres' body and car in the river.

Medrano is being held without bond in the Rogers County jail.