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Cellphone, iPad data lead to arrest of woman accused in fatal McAllen overdose, records say

Cellphone, iPad data lead to arrest of woman accused in fatal McAllen overdose, records say
36 minutes 54 seconds ago Friday, September 25 2026 Sep 25, 2026 September 25, 2026 3:36 PM September 25, 2026 in News - Local
Source: KRGV
Vanessa Denise Rico (Photo courtesy of Hidalgo County jail records)

McAllen, TX (KRGV) — Cellphone and iPad data led to the arrest of a 48-year-old Edinburg woman in connection with the overdose death of a man, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 5 News.

Vanessa Denise Rico is facing charges of manufacturing/delivering a controlled substance causing serious bodily injury or death and delivering cocaine.

Police said she sold cocaine to a man who later died from an overdose.

Austin Cody Best was found unresponsive on April 10, sitting in the driver's seat of his vehicle in a business parking lot in the 1600 block of West Dove Ave.

According to the complaint, Best's mother and brother placed the 911 call after reporting him missing earlier that day. Officers noted his body was cold to the touch and showed signs of rigor mortis.

RELATED STORY: Edinburg woman arrested in connection with fatal overdose in McAllen

Officers found a clear plastic baggie and straw with white powder residue inside Best's wallet that tested positive for cocaine.

Best's cellphone and iPad were collected as evidence. A review of that data showed he had sent a text message to Rico asking to buy cocaine on April 9, according to the complaint. Rico replied and gave Best instructions to retrieve the cocaine from her vehicle's gas tank.

An autopsy report determined that Best's death was caused by recent cocaine use.

The complaint said Rico went to the McAllen Police Department on Sept. 2 when she initially denied knowing Best but later admitted to knowing and selling him cocaine.

Rico said she sold 0.20 grams of cocaine to Best. She also admitted to selling cocaine as a means of income and claimed she had delivered cocaine as recently as Sept. 2.

A search warrant of Rico's home turned up 1.85 grams of cocaine in four individual baggies, along with a scale and an empty baggie containing residual cocaine.

According to Hidalgo County jail records, Rico was released on a $10,000 bond on Friday, Sept. 25.

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