BROWNSVILLE – The trial for Ruben Torres, the man accused of killing 13-year-old Abigail Estrada, started Monday morning with jury selection.

Estrada went missing from Harlingen nearly 10 years ago. At the time of her disappearance, Torres was 16 years old.

The teen’s body has never been recovered. She went missing in June 2007. Torres and the victim were in a relationship at the time.

Torres was charged in connection with her disappearance, but the charges were dropped because there wasn’t enough evidence. The case eventually went cold for a few years.

Then in Aug. 2015, the Cameron County district attorney, along with the Harlingen Police Department, had enough evidence to charge Torres with murder.

He was a minor at the time he allegedly killed Estrada, so he had to go before a juvenile judge. The judge decided to have the case moved to district court where Torres was then charged as an adult.

Torres was given no bond and remained in the Cameron County jail.

A grand jury indicted Torres in Dec. 2015. He pleaded not guilty in 2016.

Lillia Gonzalez, Torres’s attorney, said his charges are based on rumors. She said she’s seen some of the evidence and there’s nothing there.

Prosecutors with the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office will reveal all the evidence during the trial.

Cameron County DA Luis Saenz admitted it will be a very difficult case, but they remain very confident.

Opening statements are expected to begin once jury selection is completed.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS will continue to follow the case and report any new developments.