The Disappearance and Slaying of Cindy Davis Rendon

The Disappearance and Slaying of Cindy Davis Rendon

Author: TTC Productions December 4, 2025 Duration: 20:30
In February of 1983 23-year-old Austin mother Cindy Davis Rendon vanished from her parents’ home in Northeast Austin. It was a normal Tuesday morning — Cindy fed her baby daughter, spoke briefly with her parents before they left for work, and planned to head to her shift at the Internal Revenue Service later that afternoon. But when her estranged husband arrived to pick up the baby, he found the front door wide open, breakfast spilled on the floor, and Cindy gone without a trace.

Days passed. Then an anonymous envelope arrived in the mail containing some of Cindy’s personal belongings — but offered no explanation. Months passed. And then, in July, a camper in Pace Bend Park found a skull protruding from the earth. The remains were soon confirmed to be Cindy’s. She had been killed and buried in a shallow grave soon after she disappeared.

Investigators believed they had their suspect — Cindy’s estranged husband, Jose “Joe” Rendon. A grand jury agreed, indicting him for murder. But a legal technicality collapsed the case before it could ever reach a judge and jury, and a second grand jury refused to re-indict. No one has ever been held accountable.

Forty years later, Cindy’s family is still waiting for justice — and her killer still hasn’t been made to answer for what happened on that ordinary morning in Austin.

If you have information that could help bring justice for Cynthia “Cindy” Davis Rendon, please contact the Travis County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (512) 854-1444.

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The stories that haunt a community often linger long after the headlines fade, waiting for someone to listen. Gone Cold-Texas True Crime is a podcast dedicated to those unresolved narratives, focusing specifically on the vast and complex landscape of Texas. Each episode delves into a different mystery, from long-unsolved homicides and disappearances that have left families searching for decades to other enigmatic cases that have stubbornly resisted explanation. The sheer size and diverse history of Texas provide a unique backdrop for these investigations, where details can be as sprawling as the state itself. Produced by TTC Productions, this series approaches each case with a focus on the facts and the human stories at their core, avoiding sensationalism in favor of thoughtful examination. When you listen, you’ll hear a detailed recounting of events, often including what is known about the individuals involved and the investigative paths that were followed, all while considering the questions that remain unanswered. This podcast serves as an audio record for cases that deserve renewed attention, exploring the lingering impact on communities and the hope that new information might still emerge. It’s for those drawn to the intricacies of real-life mysteries and the understanding that some of the most compelling stories are those without an ending.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Gone Cold - Texas True Crime
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 27:50
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The Abduction & Murder of Ashley Estell Part 1: Stranger Danger  [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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