1983-12-09
Cousins Ophelia Kimberly Bernal, 18, and Angela Faith Harragarra, 17, were found murdered in Carson County, Texas on December 9th, 1983. The case remains unresolved after 42 years.
On December 8, 1983, Ophelia and Angela were hitchhiking from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The cousins had been in Oklahoma City to visit family. Angela's mother resided in Oklahoma City, and her father resided in Albuquerque. Ophelia's parents resided in Albuquerque as well.
The girls were last seen with three men, witnesses saying they were not local men, near Groom, Texas early on December 9th. Later that day some cattle company employees found the bodies of two Indigenous girls about 5 miles north of I-40 near Groom, Texas. One was nude, the other partially clothed. One girl was tied up. Both died due to blunt force trauma to the head, having been beaten with a crowbar. Both girls had been sexually assaulted and had bite marks on their bodies. The scene was described as being particularly brutal.
On December 5th, 1983, Ronnie Joe Miller and Bobby Gene Raiburn escaped from Lexington Correctional Center located in Lexington, Cleveland County, Oklahoma.
Lexington and Groom, Texas are about 258 miles apart, straight down I-40 E. It is believed that the two escapees, both with extensive criminal histories, are responsible for the murder of the two girls.
The parents of both girls later sued the Oklahoma Corrections Department since the two men had escaped from their custody, being free to possibly kill the cousins.
The two criminals were apprehended in Amarillo on December 14th, 1983, however, neither man was ever charged with the murders of Ophelia and Angela despite there being evidence linking the men to the murders.
Bite mark evidence, which we now know can be junk science, was found to match Ronnie Joe Miller. It's unknown if any of the evidence still exists or if the bite marks were tested for DNA.
Ronnie Joe Miller was murdered in prison in August 1984 without ever being charged with the murders. Bobby Gene Raiburn finished out his original sentences and died in 2014 surrounded by his grandchildren. No one has ever been held responsible for the murders of Ophelia Kimberly Bernal and Angela Faith Harragarra.
Mary Ophelia Kimberly Bernal was born October 18th, 1965 in Enid, Oklahoma to Mildred Bernal Watson and Anthony Bernal. She was of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.
Angela Faith Harragarra was born June 24th, 1966 in Washington, D.C. to Vernon and Rosella Harragarra. She was of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.
If you have any information in the brutal murders of Ophelia Kimberly Bernal and Angela Faith Harragarra please contact the Carson County Sheriff at 775-887-COPS.
