Latest Below are the latest records either added or updated. Investigators also searched the area for missing children, however none were reported missing at the time. A movie and book have even been created about the grisly murders, and the 2014 book "The Phantom Killer: Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders" by james Presley points to a man named Youell Swinney as the killer. To reiterate, according to Project: Cold Case, there are currently approximately 22,581 Texas cold cases, a number that has dropped dramatically as law enforcement agencies continue to investigate unsolved cases. Cold Case Homicide Stats - Project: Cold Case She was estimated to be between 13 and 19 years old, was between 5 feet 1 inch and 5 feet 5 inches tall, and weighed 110 pounds. While we dont know exactly how many Harris County murders have been committed in recent years, archived annual Uniform Crime Reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation can shed some light on some accurate statistics. A few days after the body was recovered, a skull was discovered in the same area. There's no way to track or locate the killer. But what we can gather from the confession and then conviction from two different criminals is that there may have been many killers involved in this case. The murder clearance rate hit an all-time low in 2020, and data analyzed by a nonprofit shows that trend continued last year. MURDER: On the day of her murder, 28-year-old Patricia Eve Gaugler was travelling from her hometown of Pottstown, Pennsylvania to her brother's home in Richmond, Virginia. The 1993 murder of Kimberly Groseclose, the 1993 murder of Stephane Henderson, the 1990 murder of Derrick Jackson, the 1987 murder of Martha McGraw, and the 1996 murder of Evangelina Angie Cruz are just a few examples of some of the unsolved murders in northern Texas which you can find on the websites of several local and statewide law enforcement organizations, as well as within the database being built by Project: Cold Case. Cause of death could not be determined, however investigators are treating the case as a homicide. He had short, curly, brown hair. They could have had someone else mail the package, then it was handled by dozens of employees on the way to its destination. Neighbors never recalled even seeing the man, and although police are almost certain Charles was responsible for his parent's murders, the case remains unsolved. August 1971. Texas is a mysterious place. 1982 cold case reopens after 18-year-old murder victim identified . His murder is considered to be a completely random act of violence. Firearms Registration and License to Carry, How to File a Citizen Complaint or Commendation. That's the most bone chilling part of all. [30][31][32], The DNA Doe Project was asked to assist with identifying the body in May, 2019. She was found to be wearing braces. Uncovered: Unsolved Texas Murders Investigators believe that the man may have come from Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, or Tennessee, and may have used the names Thomas Jeffery, Jeffery Taylor, or Joseph Taylor, in order to gain food and medical care. With violent crime and homicide rates seemingly above average, more homicides remain unsolved longer than many other parts of the country. During the incident, the suspects forced entry into the location causing damage totaling approximately $1,500. They felt certain that the abductor knew the area well since the abandoned lot was popular for young kids to play at. The Phantom Killer, an unidentified serial killer, was responsible for what news media call the Texarkana Moonlight Murders committed in the spring of 1946. Calvin Engram- 2020-506810. Additionally, the 2017 murder of Debarione Brandi Seals, the 1974 murder of Edward Edd Williams, the 2000 murder of Kenisha Shavonne Dixon, the 1997 murder of Erica Ann Garcia, and the 2019 murder of Elizabeth Barraza, can easily be found among the lists are unsolved murders Houston, Texas, which you may find on local law enforcement websites or on the Texas Rangers unsolved homicides website. Some examples of the most gruesome murders which you can find on their list of unsolved murders include the 1998 abduction and murder of Brittany Locklear, the 2000 murder of Keke Jefferson-Moore, the 2001 murder of Michelle Howard, the 1992 murder of Tammy Zywicki, the 1994 murder of Melissa Witt, the 2017 murder of Brandi Seals, and the 1985 The murdered include Richard Griffin and Polly Ann Moore, Paul Martin and Betty Jo Booker, and Virgil Starks. Based on these archived reports, there were 92 murders in Harris County in 2016, 92 in 2017, 86 in 2018, and 97 in 2019. According to this list, there were a staggering 86,484 homicides in Texas during that time period of almost 40 years. New A&E Documentary Examines 11 Unsolved Murders of Texas Teenagers Her body was discovered alongside that of a man who was identified as Thomas Rodriguez, and her death had occurred hours prior to her discovery. But the "games" arranged around the couples adds a terrifying and psychotic element to the case. He was estimated to be about 30 years old and was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall. Including murder victims and individuals whose death is via natural causes or accident, approximately 40,000 decedents remain unidentified in the United States.[1]. A 28-year-old North Dallas cocktail waitress, Carolyn Montgomery was killed with kitchen knives and found dead on her living room floor with a larger knife . After her body remained unidentified, she was buried in an unmarked grave in a potter's field. Where can I learn more about crime in Texas? Around 63,903 of those cases have since been solved, leaving the state with approximately 22,581 unsolved murders in Texas. NOV 22, 2019; The texas chainsaw massacre and The icebox Murders . [3], This youth is the only still-unidentified victim of serial killer Dean Corll, who, together with two teenage accomplices, killed at least 28 boys and young men between 1970 and 1973. The necklace was found on the body and the shoes were nearby but none of her clothing was located. Devante' Brown- 2020-147544. Majority of unsolved murders across UK 'involve female victims' - Metro The man was estimated to be between 17 and 30 years old, was between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighed between 145 and 175 pounds. The little girl left her house in Cardiff, Wales, and was never seen alive again. Her ears had also been pierced. He denied involvement. [16], On October 29, 1981, the partial skeletal remains of a teenage, white female were discovered by a TxDOT worker on Farm Route 244 in Grimes County, Texas, just south of Iola. The Unsolved Murder of Jason MacCullough (1999) - Dartmouth, NS (Interview with Vanessa Clark) On Saturday, August 28, 1999, 19-year-old Jason MacCullough was shot in the back of the head while walking home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Shepherd has lost two nephews to homicide in Houston and both of their cases remain unsolved. He had three tattoos: one of a small devil with a painted tail on his lower left arm, one on his upper left arm with the word "Liz", and one of a flower design and "Baby Dawn" on his right arm. The Texas Rangers came in to investigate, including the famous M. T. "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas. The program's primary objective is to provide Texas law enforcement agencies with a process for investigating unsolved murders or what appear to be serial or linked criminal transactions. The man was estimated to be between 20 and 39 years old, was approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, and weighed between 120 and 140 pounds. New York City recorded about 500 homicides in 2020, compared with 319 in 2019, but both figures were far below the city's worst year, 1990, when there were more than 2,200. 10 Incredibly Tragic Unsolved Child Murders - Listverse His DNA matched the biological evidence found at the crime scene of Krystal Jean Baker, who was just 13 years old when she disappeared from a Texas City convenience store in 1996. She was also wearing a square or rectangular pendent necklace with a smokey blue or brown stone. One of the threads in these unsolved cases is that sometimes the authorities know who the killer is, but they don't have the legal evidence to put them behind bars. Sharon Shepherd in her Missouri City, Texas home on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in addition to Texass numerous law enforcement agencies, compiles and publishes an annual Uniform Crime Report that provides detailed information and statistics on the various types of crimes and their crime rates for each state, including many counties and cities in every state. If you have any information about this case, you may report tips using the above link, or call Crime Stoppers at #877-373-8477. Unnatural Causes: The Texas Elder Murders - aarp.org If you want to take a closer look at the number of murders in Texas by year, you can visit the websites of many local, state, and even federal law enforcement agencies, which often publish comprehensive reports with more information on crimes committed in the area during specific periods of time. Prior to. A truck driver had seen her body on the north bound side of highway 45 about a mile north of The Hitchin Post truck stop. She was between 18 and 25, standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall. Houston's rate of unsolved murders is soaring. Experts say the police Until the evening of September 6, 1991. A distinctive feature about this female was that she had her make-up permanently tattooed on her eyebrows, eyelids and lips. Texas Rangers Unsolved Homicide Website Texas Rangers Top 12 Cold Case Investigations Generally, cases are solved when the offender has been arrested and turned over to the court for prosecution. Click on any name below for details on a particular case and download the PDF flyer. New Orleans has a murder rate of about 37 per 100,000 residents, one of the highest of any U.S. city, followed by Baton Rouge with a murder rate of 35.1. He was described as having a medium build. Get more stories delivered right to your email. He may have gone by the street name, "New York Billy". He also had three tattoos: one on his upper left arm of a cross inside of a heart, one on his left forearm that read "PEACE", and one on his upper right arm that read "BB". Unfortunately, murders and disappearances happen all over the world every day, and Texas has plenty of grisly unsolved mysteries to keep you awake at night. Four days later, a man walking his dog found Amber's body at the bottom of a creek bed in Arlington. In 2013, his body was exhumed for DNA analysis. Including murder victims and individuals whose death is via natural causes or accident, approximately 40,000 decedents remain unidentified in the United States. Catherine Davis Harold Jones Takesha Lareua . The most damning admission of an ageist and uncaring system came from Jeffrey Barnard, M.D., medical examiner for Dallas County. He had a healed injury to his nose and he was likely of muscular build, with a height between 5'2" and 5'5". [52] She was clothed, wearing a dark top, multicolored shorts with star decorations and bikini underwear, along with a sanitary pad. If you live in Washington, D.C., barely 1 of 3 homicides have been solved. Unsolved Murders: The 6 Most Mysterious of All Time | Time Peter Akintola- 2017-537981. As mentioned above, not only can you find murder statistics on various law enforcement websites, but you can also find a complete list of the number of unsolved murders in each state on the Project: Cold Case website. [41] The woman had been shot at close range in the head. The area has come to be known as the Texas Killing Fields. Tipsters may remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 . Shortly thereafter Mr. Aguilar's body was found fatally wounded. Houston, Texas, murders seem to occur more frequently than most, if not all, other cities in the state, probably due to Houstons size and population, as we can see from the Texas homicide clearance rate, which is around 74% according to Project: Cold Case. What we know about the increase in U.S. murders in 2020 The Harris County Sheriff's Department linked the murders to another unsolved rape and burglary that was committed a few months before the Lover's Lane murders, but the case still remains unsolved. Uncovered: Unsolved Murders By State A lot has changed since 1996 and stranger danger has taken on a completely new meaning since this case. The cuts of meat were actually the legs and torsos of the victims. Most states saw their murder rates go up between 2019 and 2020. Irasema Rosa Ch. Most of these cases have remained unsolved, but one of the girls' murderers was caught in 2012 using DNA evidence from 16 years earlier. Most officials don't connect this last attack to the work of the Phantom Killer, but they can't be sure. It appeared the man had been dragged outside of the club, possibly by a worker who had been cleaning up for the night. We never know,. Unsolved Homicides | mpdc To do so, choose "anonymous" when submitting your report. She was between five feet and five feet two inches, and weighed approximately 120 to 140 pounds. Families are much more protective of young children knowing that horrors like this can and have occurred. The woman, along with her boyfriend, has never been identified. She was estimated to be between 19 and 21 years old, was between 4 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 2 inches tall, and weighed between 95 and 105 pounds. Stars Allison Rivera Brandi Petersen Pistol Black See production, box office & company info Watch on Netflix S1-3 with subscription Perhaps one of the most well-known, frustrating cases ever in Texas, the murder of Amber Hagerman gained worldwide attention and even prompted officials to create Amber alerts for missing persons. In November of 2017, patrol officers from the small city of Corinth came across a vehicle parked in a vacant lot with the lights on. The murder spree, dubbed the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, started with the attack on 25-year-old Jimmy Hollis and his girlfriend, 19-year-old Mary Jeanne Larey, just before midnight on Feb. 22 . Also included in the lists of cold cases in Texas are the many strange and unexplained disappearances. It is known that he suffered from a mild form of spina bifida. True Crimes in Texas - Unsolved & Solved Emma Frailey Society & Culture 1.0 8 Ratings; learn about crimes that happened in Texas! 2. Noone was ever caught for these brutal murders and the families of all involved have never found answers to who killed their children and why. Angela Samota: 20-Year-Old College Student Murdered, Body Found Inside Off-Campus Apartment. However if you have information, or know of a homicide case that has not been solved please post it. Demeitri Anderson - November 29, 2020; 4500 block of Benning Road, SE. While it may seem like Texas will never be able to put an end to every Texas homicide or true crime story in Texas, just think about how much progress the state has made in recent history. Married for many years, with four children (all of whom seemed on the path to successful lives), financially comfortable, they appeared to have everything going for them. Murders Spiked in 2020 in Cities Across the United States Release year: 2020. He was white with possible Native American or Hispanic ancestry. [4][5][6] This decedent was between 5 feet 2 and 5 feet 7 inches tall, had dark brown hair, approximately seven inches in length,[7] and is believed to have worn multicolored, striped swim trunks, boots, and a shirt displaying a peace symbol. She was found wrapped in a large plastic bag with a rag commonly used by mechanics inside, as well. Despite the red flags Atwell's increasingly odd behavior raised, the case remains unsolved, and the Colonial Parkway Murders Facebook page reported his death on December 2018. [46], On April 28, 2007, the body of a middle aged Hispanic man was discovered by a group of community service workers, found floating in Double Bayou in Anahuac, Texas. Investigators could not find a conclusive cause of death. This story consists of many, many murders and disappearances along a stretch of I-45 South between Houston and Galveston. His hair was dark brown with some gray visible. Not only can you discover solved as well as unsolved crimes on such lists, but you can quite often find famous Texas murders, notorious Texas criminals, famous disappearances, and even prominent Texas serial killers. On June 6, 1972, it was neither. Creepy Unsolved Mysteries from Texas - Ranker Lastly, the 2001 murder of Tara Blue, the 1995 murder of Mary Catherine Edwards, the 1982 murder of Monica Christie Wilson, the 2002 murder of Jennifer Harris, and the 2001 murder of Travoski Johnson, are just a few examples of another form of unsolved murders Texas, which are almost always included on various law enforcement lists of cold cases, the category being east Texas unsolved murders. Cause of death was not determined, but is believed to be a homicide, as she was found with her hands bound behind her back. As her daughter, Shannon Dion, puts it: "The mentality of it was, 'They were old, and they just died.'. On 7 April 1959, 6-year-old Carol Ann Stephens ran up to her mother, Mavis, and happily told her she was going outside to play.