If you’re camping along the Rio Frio, don’t be alarmed at the small, single wisp of “fog” that moves gracefully, playfully and teasingly among the trees on the riverbanks. It has been seen many times and has done harm to no one over the years. If anything, It is probably the White Lady of Rio Frio, a benevolent apparition who loves children.

There have been many reports of a child being cold at night. The White Lady appears and places the child’s blanket back over him, tucks him in and sits by the bed until he goes back to sleep again. She is always described as a beautiful young Hispanic lady, dressed completely in white.

The White Lady hasn’t always been a ghost. She was Maria Juarez in life. She was one of two very beautiful Juarez sisters that lived in the vicinity of Rio Frio in the early 1900s. Maria’s older sister was married to a man name Gregorio, a handsome young vaquero. Even though her sister was several years older than Maria, the two spent a lot of time together.

As Maria grew into young adulthood, she became even more beautiful and Gregorio started paying a lot of attention to her when his wife wasn’t around.

Maria had met a young man named Anselmo Tobar, a vaquero from a neighboring ranch. She and Anselmo began seeing each other frequently and finally became engaged. Maria loved children and couldn’t wait to be married and have children of her own.

Gregorio finally approached Maria one day while she was visiting her sister. Out of earshot of his wife, Gregorio told Maria of his love for her. Maria explained that she would not betray her sister and besides, she was engaged to Anselmo and she would not betray him either. Gregorio went into a rage! Maria became frightened and ran to the safety of her own home.

After sundown, Maria was waiting for Anselmo to arrive as planned, when someone was heard outside. Thinking it was Anselmo, Maria opened the door, only to be facing a very angry, seemingly insane Gregorio! He approached her, pulled a pistol and shot her to death!

The sound of gunshots alarmed others in the vicinity, who came to the scene to find Maria lying in a pool of blood. The shooter had apparently fled. In reality, he was hiding in the barn.

Within a few minutes, law officers showed up to attempt to track the culprit. As the lawmen approached the barn, the murderer came out of the hay with his hands up. People were shocked to see that the killer was Maria’s own brother-in-law. He surrendered and confessed to the crime, all the while stating his love for Maria.

Maria was later dressed in the white formal gown that would have otherwise been her wedding dress and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Rio Frio Cemetery.

A few years after Maria’s death, Anselmo met and married another lady. They had many children, children that Maria was hoping to have!

To this day, she wanders the countryside around the Frio River, seeking out and helping young children in distress.

Now, most of you probably don’t believe in ghosts, but if you’re ever in Rio Frio, ask some of the little children in the area about their beloved White Lady. - And above all, don’t tell them that you don’t believe in ghosts! - Wilson Jay