HOUSTON -- The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is still investigating the discovery of a large amount of ammunition in a rural Liberty County trailer home and an alleged connection to a Texas militia group, but Liberty County deputies initially went to the home on C.R. 2134 searching for a missing Harris County man.
Mark Larry Rhineburger, of Crosby, was last seen Feb. 15. His truck was found on FM 787 near Romayor in the same corner of Liberty County where deputies made the discovery of the large amount of ammunition Wednesday night inside that rural trailer home.
The Liberty County Sheriff s Office said an unidentified person of interest in the missing person s case was detained Wednesday night during their search, but is not under arrest.
One man was arrested but not in connection with the missing person s case. Joseph JoJo Brunson is described by deputies as a felon illegally in possession of weapons. He was booked into the Liberty County jail.
As for the missing man, Christina Rhineburger was hoping it was the break in the case her family is desperately seeking.
Somebody actually overheard a threat said to him that they were going to kill him, she said she has since learned about her brother-in-law s disappearance.
His truck was found out of gas with the keys still in the ignition. His family said he was scared for his life and trying desperately to get away from someone.
We ve heard that they re bad people. That they re capable of doing just about anything, Christina Rhineburger said of the people her family believes might be involved in her brother-in-law s disappearance. I guess you could say they could do just about anything to anybody and not let it bother them.
We just want to find him, dead or alive, we just want to find him, she said.
The Liberty County Sheriff s Office said the missing person s case remains an open and active investigation. Meanwhile, deputies report that in the ammunition investigation any ties to the Texas Militia have not been confirmed.
