TX TX - Caroline Susan Bolen, 26, Silsbee, 28 July 1988 *found murdered at home*

[CastlesBurning]

https://www.chron.com/news/article/caroline-bolen-tx-murder-18264080.php

Friday, July 28 marks 35 years since 26-year-old Caroline Susan Bolen was murdered in her Silsbee home in 1988. The Texas Rangers recently went to social media and are requesting anyone with information to step forward after reopening the case in 2019.

After the murder, the Silsbee Police Department and Texas Rangers conducted an investigation but no viable leads have been developed since Bolen’s death, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Archives from local reporting from the Silsbee Bee in August of 1988 stated Bolen was new to the area and moved to Silsbee from Lumberton two weeks before her death, according to Shawn Blackwell, police chief in Silsbee. She worked at Christus St. Elizabeth in a clerical-type position and went bowling the night before her untimely death.

"Evidence suggests that the homicide may be sexually related with the autopsy ruling asphyxia as the cause," said Blackwell.

Any information can be submitted to the Silsbee Police Department with the case investigator Justin Holt at 409-385-3714 or submit a tip to www.dps.texas.gov.

Texas Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $3,000 to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for his crime, the release said. However, information tips must go through the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) to be eligible for the cash reward.

In addition, the Texas Rangers are also assigned to the case and may be contacted at 1-800-346-3243 or online.

 

[dotr]

rbbm

Gone Cold | DPS seeks help in solving 35-year-old murder of Silsbee woman

On July 28, 1988, Caroline Susan Bolen, 26, was found dead in her Silsbee, Texas home by one of her friends. Since then, authorities have had no viable leads.

www.kcentv.com

'The Silasbee Police Department originally sent DNA fingerprint evidence to a lab in New York within a year since her death, but the lab said there was an insufficient amount of DNA evidence at the time, according to the newspaper. Police then sent evidence to the FBI, but no viable leads came from it.''

"We are now pursuing new leads based on old evidence using today's technology," Texas Ranger Brandon Bess told 6 News' sister station, KBMT. Bess explained they are going to look into new technology when it comes to DNA evidence.
DPS also hopes the public can help them attain new leads in their investigation with Silsbee Police.''

Details - Unsolved Homicide

Texas Rangers Cold Case Investigation Detail

Caroline Bolen

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REFERENCE NUMBER: 301 - Unsolved
COMPANY: A
RACE: White
SEX: Female
CITY: Silsbee
COUNTY: Hardin
RELATED YEAR: 1988
Submit a Tip Online

DETAILS:
On July 28, 1988, 26-year-old Caroline Susan Bolen was found deceased by a friend at her home in Silsbee, Hardin County.

An extensive investigation was immediately initiated and conducted by the Silsbee Police Department and Texas Rangers, but no viable leads have been developed since Ms. Bolen’s death.

The Texas Rangers Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program and The Silsbee Police Departments Special Assignments Unit reopened the case in 2019 and are seeking the public’s assistance with this investigation.

Any information can be submitted to the Silsbee Police Department SAU Investigator Justin Holt at 409-385-3714, Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip to www.dps.texas.gov Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program; all tips are anonymous.

Texas Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $3,000 to any person who provides informationthat leads to the arrest of the person/persons responsible forthis crime. To be eligible for the cash rewards, tipsters MUST call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477). All tips are anonymous. Tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name.

Information on this case may also be submitted in the following manner:

• Submit a Tip Online thru the Texas Rangers’ Cold Case website
• Contact us by telephone at 1-800-346-3243. Your information will be forwarded to the Texas Rangerassigned to this case.''

 

[CastlesBurning]

Investigators using DNA to try and solve Silsbee mother's killing more than 30 years later

She was well-known and well-liked, Bess said, making solving her killing even more confusing.

"This was not a forced entry case that you are looking for here, this is not a robbery that we know of," Bess said.

So, they turned to DNA using Othram, a private lab in The Woodlands, and a grant Silsbee were awarded from a non-profit called "Season of Justice."

“All the DNA that we have that we believe to be suspect DNA was indeed the same person," Bess said.

Now begins the work of forensic genealogy, building out family trees.

"When you have DNA I don’t think any case is unsolvable because everybody is kin to somebody," Bess explained.

It's a fighting chance for a family to finally get answers.

“I’ve not done one of these where we have DNA that we have not solved," Bess said.

 

[dotr]

After 37 Years, Caroline Bolen's Killer is Now Identified

Silsbee Police Department and Texas Rangers Team with Othram to Solve the 1988 Murder of Caroline Bolen

dnasolves.com

''On July 28, 1988, officers with the Silsbee Police Department were dispatched to a residence located at 1280 Cooks Road in Silsbee, Texas. When officers arrived, 26-year-old Caroline Susan Bolen's body was discovered inside her home. The initial investigation revealed that Ms. Bolen had been brutally sexually assaulted and murdered by an unknown suspect. Tragically, her six-year-old son was left alone inside the residence with his deceased mother after the assailant left the scene.

Despite extensive investigative efforts and the development of initial leads, the case eventually went cold, though it remained open and under periodic review.

In 2019, the case was reassigned to Investigator Justin Holt of the Silsbee Police Department’s Special Assignment Unit. During the same time, the case was also being actively reviewed by Texas Ranger Brandon Bess with the Texas Rangers Company A Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program (UCIP).''

''These leads reinvigorated the investigation into identifying Bolen's killer, leading detectives to relatives of her killer, who is now identified as Allen Wayne Mosley. Mosley lived on a street that ran adjacent to Bolen's Silsbee, Texas home. At the time of the offense, Mosley was on court ordered supervision for a prior rape charge in Jasper County, Texas which involved the stranger abduction of a minor.

Investigators believe that Mosley traveled to Bolen's home in the early morning hours of July 28, 1988. It was reported that the victim heard Mosley arrive at her home and she thought that it was her boyfriend, as she had visited his home earlier that evening. Mosley is believed to have forced his way into the home upon the victim coming to the door, where he then sexually assaulted Ms. Bolen, with her 6-year-old child present, before ultimately killing her by asphyxiation as she resisted, leaving behind critical biological evidence.

Witness information, from the time, indicated that a male subject matching Mosley’s description was observed leaving the residence the following morning. Mosley reportedly allowed a family member to drive his vehicle to Galveston the same morning, removing its presence from the area. It was learned that Mosley and his family relocated to Oklahoma after the killing of Bolen. Mosley died by suicide in 2006 while living in Tulsa Oklahoma.''
May 1, 2026

DNA, genealogy lead to suspect in 1988 Silsbee cold case killing

Advancements in DNA and forensic genealogy have identified Allen Wayne Mosley as the suspect in Caroline Bolen's 1988 murder.

www.12newsnow.com

''On Aug. 22, 2006, Mosley died by suicide in Tulsa following an argument with his spouse.
Authorities said Mosley’s family has cooperated with the investigation and was not believed to have known about his alleged crimes. Investigators also uncovered additional allegations of sexual assault involving at least three other underage victims connected to him''.