Reward increased to $20,000 in Josue Flores murder case

HOUSTON – Crime Stoppers has increased the reward to help find the killer of an 11-year-old stabbing victim.

Josue Flores was murdered, last week near  Fulton and James as he walked home from Marshal Middle School. A reward of $20,000 is being offered to help police find and any information that will lead them to the killer. 

And family members are happy for the interest.

"It makes me glad that somebody is interested enough to donate that money," Guadalupe Flores, Josue's sister, said. "He wouldn't want us to be sad because every time he was around us he was making jokes to make us laugh."

Earlier this week a knife was found in a storm drain by a woman walking near North Main and Henry, about seven blocks away from the murder scene where Josue was brutally stabbed.

Yolanda Arteaga, the woman who discovered the knife, said she looked down and spotted something shiny in the drain. It looked like a knife and Arteaga new she had to let the police know right away. 

"Like I told the officials," Arteaga said. "I'm not sure it's the knife that killed the kid but right now, any evidence is good to find the killer."

Police have not confirmed if the weapon is connected to the murder.

"I know they are trying hard and they just haven't been able to find anything," Guadalupe, said. "It makes me hopeful because I thought the story was dying out and people weren't interested anymore."

Authorities said the knife will be taken to the property room, where it will be processed for evidence that may or may not be on it.

"We are not considering this a major development," John Cannon, of the Houston Police Department said. "This could be a knife from anywhere. We just don't know."

The Flores family is hoping otherwise. The family said they would love for the knife to give police some clues as to who killed Josue.

"I hope and pray that it is a the weapon, and I hope that all the evidence stayed in tact so they can get something on it," Lupita Flores, Josue's sister, said.

Police are still pursuing any and all leads in the case, including surveillance video in the area.

"If there is a message, it's that this woman saw something and said something," Cannon said.

Josue was laid to rest Tuesday.

Mayor Sylvester Turner held a press conference Monday along with Houston police and the district attorney asking anyone with information on Josue's murder to come forward to help catch the killer.

Turner said crimes like these should not go unsolved in the community.

Turner has also authorized the Police Department to use all available resources to help solve this crime.

He's urging anyone who may know something to come forward and talk with police.

He also said that any information in this case could be the key piece of evidence they need to arrest the person responsible.

Information about Josue's death may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS or by sending a texting TIP610 plus the information to CRIMES. All tipsters may remain anonymous.