# Officials re-examine 1984 cold case - murder of my friend **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 20, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106 "2009-01-20T05:44:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/1 "2009-01-20T05:44:32Z")
In 1984, a high-school friend of mine who had moved to Texas came up missing. Months later her remains were found and foul play was suspected. The case has gone unsolved all these years. The other day I happened to think of her, and then I thought about all these cold cases you see on TV now, where old evidence is being reprocessed in an effort to solve them. I searched a bit on the 'net and came across this [article](http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1130859.html). DNA found on another young woman killed in the area matches that of a guy who is already imprisoned. The authorities suspect he may be linked to the murder of several young women, including my friend. She is the first girl in this photo [gallery](http://www.star-telegram.com/news/photos/gallery/1131020.html). It seems weird, after all this time, for it to be possible to find out who killed her. I’ve lived so long with the un-knowing of it. My daughter is now the same age Cat was back then. Kinda gives me a shiver. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/2 "2009-01-20T11:32:46Z")
It’s amazing how technological advances like DNA testing can help solve cold cases. Folks that probably thought they were safe after so many years can’t rest now, and that’s a good thing. Let us know if you hear anything else on this case. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/3 "2009-01-20T13:30:00Z")
I lived in Dallas in the mid 80s and well remember the fear instilled in women throughout the area as the number of violent murders began to mount. It’s hard to believe anyone could be so sick as to perpetrate a crime like this, much less do it over and over again. I’m so sorry about your friend. The devastation placed on family and friends in addition to the loss of the individual themselves is simply beyond imagination. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/4 "2009-01-20T13:42:38Z")
There was an article in last months Popular Science about just this sort of thing. The advances made with mDNA is helping to solve many cold cases. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Angel\_of\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/5 "2009-01-20T14:35:04Z")
What a beautiful young woman she was. My thoughts to you and her family. I’m sure it never ends for them. ---
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/6 "2009-01-20T18:54:26Z")
I’m sorry about your friend, and I hope they finally pin the crime on the killer. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/7 "2009-01-21T04:54:47Z")
[Sniff] I knew one of the girls very well. My social circle was devastated, as my buddy, her bf, was suspected of committing the deed. (No, he didn’t do it.) I’ll have to let him know that the case may be finally solved. OMG. This guy lived in the Hulen area. Cindy was abducted from close to Hulen Mall, as were three other girls. I want the son of a bitch fried, and I’ll gladly pull the switch. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/8 "2009-01-21T05:12:35Z")
p.s. I lived in Austin at the time, so I missed most of the bad stuff first hand. Friends later told me that my buddy was in the DFW news constantly. When the police searched his house, one TV crew set up on a neighbor’s garage roof to get the really juicy shots. The DA called him before the grand jury. His business was ruined. The memorial was probably the only time I have ever cried in public. Horrible, sad times. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/9 "2009-01-21T10:15:22Z")
An (I think recent) AARP magazine had an article about four retire police officers who have formed a volunteer Cold Case Investigation Unit. Hoping the justice, earthly & ultimate, is done by your friend. ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/10 "2009-01-21T11:11:43Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > An (I think recent) AARP magazine had an article about four retire police officers who have formed a volunteer Cold Case Investigation Unit. > > Hoping the justice, earthly & ultimate, is done by your friend. Bless those volunteer officers! I just can’t help but think of all the mothers out there who can’t sleep at night. Good job by anybody who is willing to offer up their time to help put these cases (and these victims) to bed. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/11 "2009-01-21T17:50:44Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > The memorial was probably the only time I have ever cried in public. > > Horrible, sad times. I’m so sorry Oslo. ☹ They only found enough of Cat’s bones to bury her in a baby coffin. I was away in California and unable to attend her funeral. I just can’t imagine burying my grown child in a baby coffin. I think you’d have to put me in the ground with her. Her mom and brother have never been the same, really. Amazing how many families have all beem touched by this same situation. ETA: I just noticed that both of our friends were 23 years old at the time, Oslo. Eerie. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/12 "2009-01-22T03:21:12Z")
I got an email from my buddy’s wife. The paper called looking for a comment from him. ☹ :mad: ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/13 "2009-01-22T05:27:58Z")
Wow, I was still a teenager when all this happened and we moved from the Metroplex in '82, but I have no idea how I’d never heard of any of this. I suppose my family was even more self-absorbed than I realized. :mad: Reading the link, I just wanted to say to both **Ninety** and **Oslo** how much I hope they nail the fucker’s ass to the wall over this. Your friends look so vibrant and beautiful, I can’t imagine how difficult a loss that must be, even after all this time. And now that they’ve started down this path, I pray there’ll finally be a measure of closure _soon_. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/14 "2009-01-22T06:58:15Z")
Evidence will be a problem, given the length of time some of the victims’ bodies went undiscovered. If they can pin another one on him, maybe he will start talking. Plus, all I know about the guy is that he got sent up in California for armed robbery - pretty far removed from serial sexual assault/murder. I wonder what his complete rap sheet looks like. An anecdote to add to the mix: in the same time period, in the Hulen area, a girl I met repelled a break-in attempt at her apartment by screaming bloody murder. Same guy? Who knows? **faithfool** : I think all this happened '84-'85 - after you had left the area. I’d appreciate it if any DFW Doper bumps this thread at any new development. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/15 "2009-01-22T12:00:52Z")
**Oslo** , I’ll definitely keep an eye on it (since I once more live in the Dallas area) and let you all know if there’s an update. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officials-re-examine-1984-cold-case-murder-of-my-friend/482106/16 "2009-01-22T14:14:56Z")
I appreciate that, **faithfool**. I’ve been looking for the one or two photos I had of Cat. I may post them if I do.