2015 Hit-and-Run Accident Death Reveals Ineptitude, Corruption by Cameron County Justice System Including DA's Office, BPD and Division of Records

Ralph Tipton

Ralph Tipton is profoundly sad, incredibly hurt, but most of all, mad as hell, about the death of his wife, Mary, on February 28, 2015 in a hit-and-run accident and the mishandling of accident by the Cameron County District Attorney, bungling of the accident report by the Brownsville Police Department, silencing by reassignment of the BPD detective originally assigned to the case and, even, refusal to share legally mandated records by the Cameron County Department of Records.

Mary Tipton, Found Dead in a Ditch on FM
803 Within Sight of the Hit-and-Run Driver
Marisa Govea's Home

At every turn, Ralph Tipton, has been stifled, stymied and squelched in his effort to get to the truth of his wife's death and the justice of adequate prosecution of the person responsible.

On July 28 retired reporter Emma Perez-Trevino shared this much on her Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/staremma.pereztrevino/posts/997962970316951

Detective Thomas Clipper,  Told
to "Stand Down & Stay Out" of
Hit-and-Run Case.  "Let the DA
Handle It!"

Since Emma shared that report, Mr. Tipton contacted us seeking further help in getting his complete story out in his pursuit of justice for his wife.  He also shared dozens of pictures of the vehicle that struck his wife, pictures of his wife at the crime scene and other tape recorded and written evidence. 

The hit-and-run driver came to be identified as

Marisa Govea Hernandez, Hit-and-Run Driver

Marisa Govea Hernandez, the mother of a Cameron County Deputy Sheriff. Her house is in eyesight of where Mary Tipton's body was found, but her son, a Cameron County Deputy Sheriff, according to Tipton, unethically spoke for her, giving a largely misleading and totally inaccurate report of the accident to the Brownsville Police Department. He claimed his mother had hit a skunk and incorrectly stated her direction of travel.  

Height of Damage to Suspect's Vehicle

We will not presume at this point to know the entire story, but we will do our best to find out why this case was handled as it was.  

According to Mr. Tipton, efforts have been made to keep him out of the process every step of the way.

As stated above, there are many elements of this story.  We will endeavor to isolate the individual stories within the story in subsequent days.