HOUSTON — The families of a Houston couple shot and killed in 2017 may finally have some peace.
Houston police said two men are in custody and charged in connection with the shooting deaths of Robert Cerda, 29, and Rachel Delarosa, 34. The cold case was featured in our Missing Pieces segment last March.
Editor's note: The video above originally aired on our Missing Pieces series last March.
Josue Casco, 37, is charged with capital murder in the case. He was already in federal custody for a separate case in 2020.
Herbert James Simon, 40, is charged with murder. In March, Simon was charged with aggravated kidnapping in this case, but that charge was upgraded earlier this week. He was out on parole at the time of the murders, but since then was sentenced in another case and is currently in state prison.
“I think the first thing I said was, ‘Thank you, Jesus,’” Robert Cerda's mother, Valerie Cerda, told us after his arrest.
It was the most news she had heard in the four years since her son was killed.
"It meant a lot, I felt some relief," said Valerie Cerda, his mother. "It doesn't bring closure but I'm glad and happy to know what H.P.D. did a great job."
This mother says it was not random, her son knew Casco.
"They are from the same neighborhood, the same community we live in," said Cerda.
MISSING PIECES: Who killed Robert Cerda and Rachel Delarosa?
Here's what happened
Cerda's body was found in a northeast Houston ditch near the Eastex Freeway on the morning of December 12, 2017. An autopsy determined he'd been shot.
They learned Cerda and Delarosa were on a date at Connie's restaurant in the Spring Branch area before they were killed.
According to court documents, Cerda and Delarosa were shot with the same gun. Witnesses told investigators Cerda was killed in Spring Branch, at a hair salon on Long Point.
“He walked in there to use the restroom and never walked back out," said Cerda.
Witnesses say Casco had beef with Cerda, but it was Simon who shot and killed him. Then Casco took off with Delarosa, shooting and killing her investigators say in Missouri City.
Court documents also detail the attempt to cover it all up, Walmart purchases for gloves, trash bags and rope. Police found Cerda’s body dumped off Bleker Street in Houston. Heartbreaking details for this family to digest.
“They took my son’s life, they took Rachel’s life, they had a lot of life ahead of them, they were both just 29 years old," said Cerda.
Both men are already in custody on other charges. KHOU 11 has reported Simon was on parole at the time of these murders and court records also show Casco was on probation at the time.
WATCH: More Missing Pieces reports