Heritage Foundation, Webb archaeological group, & archaeologist ask for DNA sample from crypt on church property

By María Eugenia Guerra

“Determining whether or not our community's founder is actually buried right here on the grounds of the old church would be of the utmost significance for the people of Laredo,” said Margarita Araiza, executive director of the Webb County Heritage Foundation. “Not only would it be possible to honor and protect Don Tomás Sánchez' final resting place, it would be an incentive for Laredoans and visitors to further explore the dynamic history and people of this area,” she said.

“If we could identify him, we could have closure for a life that had such great bearing on the settlement of our city,” said Lily Perez of the Webb County Archaeological Society. In 1998 Perez had the rare experience of exploring the crypt in which it is believed Don Tomás Sánchez is buried, a site just north of the steps into the old St. Augustine School building.

“We could put him to rest and accord him the honor he deserves. It's clear that he was accorded that honor when he died. It is evident in where he was buried, what he was wearing, and the preparation of his burial site,” Perez said.

Araiza and Perez have written Bishop Tamayo about their wish to open the old crypt to retrieve a sample that could be used for DNA testing, a wish echoed by George West archaeologist Jim Warren, who uncovered the site in 1998. Warren said that with the Bishop's permission he will uncover the burial in what had once been the sacristy of the old church.

Perez recalled her 1998 visit to the crypt which had been uncovered before landscaping was scheduled to begin. “The grave sunk in pretty quickly once they removed the built up stones, the flat stones on the casket lid, and then the casket lid,” Perez said.

“It was determined that the tomb had been robbed. Jim Warren could see that the lid had been moved and that the body had been moved around probably to remove his boots, his hat, his saber and scabbard, his ring, the brass buttons of his great coat,” Perez continued.

“The sun came out and I could see the brilliance of the fabric on the collar, the cuffs of his suit, and the cuffs of his breeches. You could see the sash on which his sword had hung. It was pretty well preserved. The fabric was hard and dusty. He was fully clothed. It was a very clean crypt. It was whitewashed on the inside,” said Perez.

Perez said the church site is a treasure store of the city's history, particularly what is just under the paving stones in front of the church and under the parking lot to the south of the church. “There is such a clear definition of the old church laid out in stone footings,” she said.

“We understand that the excavation and archaeological work will be done professionally and with the utmost respect for the human remains buried there,” Araiza said. “As the historic preservation organization leading the celebration of our community's 250th anniversary, this project would be of crucial significance at this time. What a wonderful gift it would be to the people of Laredo, to know exactly where the founder of our city is buried,” Araiza wrote to the Bishop.