Always remembering Oscar: 20 years after the kidnapping and murder of a beloved Dallas restaurateur, family reflects​on May 3, 2025 at 3:27 am

DALLAS — I’ve covered countless tragedies over the years, but some stories never leave you. The kidnapping and murder of Oscar Sanchez is one of them.

Oscar was a 30-year-old businessman from a beloved Oak Cliff family. He helped run two of Dallas’ most iconic restaurants: La Calle Doce and El Ranchito.

His mother, Laura Sanchez, and I have talked many times over the years. Her love for her son is unwavering.

“Oscar was… it’s not because he’s not here anymore. He was just an amazing person,” Laura said. “I cannot stop giving thanks to God for giving me 30 years with my wonderful son.” 

Jan. 18, 2005 — the morning he disappeared — Oscar was on the phone with his mother when his car was hit from behind. He told her he had been in a minor accident near Canty and Winnetka. But something was wrong.

“He just said, ‘No, someone hit me from behind,’ and he even told me where he was… there’s no traffic there. That cannot happen,” Laura said.

“Right before they took the phone from him, I heard him say ‘Richie.’ So those words stayed with me very, very, very strongly,” she said.

His mother rushed to the scene. Oscar’s car was still there — the engine was running and the driver’s door was wide open. I was the first reporter on the scene.

“Our victim vehicle was left running and the driver’s door open… we processed the vehicle in case we were able to locate any fingerprints or forensic evidence,” said former Deputy Chief Freddie Saldana. 

Eyewitness Craig Whitley noticed the abandoned car and recalled the moment Oscar’s mother arrived.

“His mother came up on the accident scene maybe 10 or 15 minutes after I had called the police… she said he told her someone hit me from behind,” Whitley said.

That was the last time anyone saw Oscar alive. But he called once more — and what he said chilled detectives. Sgt. Joe Decorte, who led the investigation, spoke to me in a recent interview.

“Oscar Sanchez called his mother… said, ‘Hey, I’ve been kidnapped. Don’t call the police… they want $3 million,” Decorte said.

More ransom calls followed. Someone was using a device to disguise their voice. But no one ever showed up at the drop site in Arlington. Detectives traced the prepaid phone used to contact Laura Sanchez back to a credit card belonging to Jose Felix, who lived in Duncanville.

“When nobody showed up there, the decision was made to go into the house… a lot of blood everywhere… somebody had really been hurt in that apartment,” Decorte said.

It turns out Felix was associated with a man named Richie Acevedo — the same “Richie” Oscar mentioned in his final call. By the time detectives made the connection and got to Felix’s home, both suspects had vanished.

Surveillance and ATM records showed they were heading to Chicago. That’s when I got the call — and exclusive access — to travel with Dallas homicide detectives.

“Chicago police staked the ticket area and arrested him right there… he was waiting in line to get on the plane,” Decorte said.

Felix claimed he was a victim too, but eventually confessed that Oscar had been killed.

“He confessed to us then that Oscar Sanchez was dead and they had disposed of him somewhere along 20 as they were going to Chicago,” Decorte said.

Search crews launched a massive effort — on horseback, on foot and by boat. They combed the rural terrain until one officer made the heartbreaking discovery.

“An officer found the body while conducting a foot search,” said former Dallas Police Deputy Chief Jan Easterling.

The motive? Detectives believe the suspects learned about a large restaurant deposit and saw an opportunity to cash in.

“The demand for $3 million was ridiculous… Richie probably overheard them making a large deposit… that was their grand plan,” Decorte said.

Oscar’s family still lives with the pain.

“Even though we will never get Oscar back… it felt OK to get both of them in jail,” Laura said.

“It took a lot of therapy… it does feel like it happened yesterday,” she added.

Oscar’s daughter, Helena, was just six weeks old at the time. Now in college, she speaks of a father she never truly met but always feels near.

“Even though I was a month old when he passed… I just feel close to him,” Helena said.

“We look out for feathers… It’s our sign that he’s saying hi,” she said. “I love having my last name… I hear, ‘you’re Oscar’s daughter.’”

I still visit La Calle Doce. Oscar’s photo is still there. This case — his life — is never far from my mind.

“Even now, 20 years later… I think I have a picture of Oscar still hanging on the wall there,” Laura said.

Oscar Sanchez’s story wasn’t just a crime. It was a betrayal. A loss. A family’s heartbreak. But also, their resilience.

“They thought they were so smart. But that’s what every criminal thinks. And then they get caught,” Laura said. “God has given me the grace to forgive those two killers.”

It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years. For those of us who saw this unfold, it’s something we will never forget. Always remembering Oscar.