TX TX - Cheryl Henry, 22, & Andy Atkinson, 21, Houston, 21 Aug 1990

[mocity]

I have not posted on this thread before, although I have read about this crime in the past. I also have not read all thirty pages of the thread, so if I am posting about something that has already been discussed, I apologize in advance: in the original post that started this thread, I believe that the article said that the car had been discovered by a HPD patrolman. In this article, it says that the car was found by a "guard patrolling an industrial park":

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...help-break-notorious-Lover-s-Lane-1635849.php

I know that news reporters (particularly for the Houston Chronicle, which is my hometown newspaper) are notoriously unreliable. But which was it? A security guard, or a HPD patrolman, or was he an HPD officer working as a security guard? The reason I ask is because I read somewhere that the suspect in the rape may have been a security guard. Did they eliminate the guy who found the car if he was not a police officer?

It was a security guard patrolling for a nearby office building. Yes he was interviewed and cleared.

 

[tex124]

"It was a security guard patrolling for a nearby office building. Yes he was interviewed and cleared."

Was there truly no reason to check his DNA? I mean, was he clearly not someone who could have been a suspect?

 

[mocity]

"It was a security guard patrolling for a nearby office building. Yes he was interviewed and cleared."

Was there truly no reason to check his DNA? I mean, was he clearly not someone who could have been a suspect?

For all I know they did check his DNA. To my knowledge no one ever thought he could have been a suspect but I am sure they looked at him. He was the one that actually called in the car parked there after he saw it parked there. That is how we found them.

 

[tex124]

I don't know, maybe I just read too many mystery novels where either the criminal inserts himself into the investigation, or he returns to the scene of the crime (I don't know how much truth there is to that old adage). I was just curious, mainly because of the coincidence that there was a suspicion that a security guard (or someone wearing a security guard's uniform) committed the rape on the other lady, and the fact that a security guard discovered the car. For all I know, the guy may have been 70 years old and unable to commit the crime anyway, but I just wondered if the police were satisfied that he could not have done it.

 

[margarita25]

I came across this post and immediately thought of Andy and Cheryl:



"A month later, police say 14-year-old Regina Walters of Pasedena, Texas disappeared with her boyfriend near Houston. Her body was later found by a farmer in downstate Illinois, her boyfriend was never found."

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...OADES-long-haul-trucker&p=7735550#post7735550

Was he ever looked at or ruled out?

 

[mocity]

I came across this post and immediately thought of Andy and Cheryl:

"A month later, police say 14-year-old Regina Walters of Pasedena, Texas disappeared with her boyfriend near Houston. Her body was later found by a farmer in downstate Illinois, her boyfriend was never found."

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...OADES-long-haul-trucker&p=7735550#post7735550

Was he ever looked at or ruled out?

Not to my knowledge. I read about him and it doesn't sound similar to me since (based on what I read) he shot his victims and normally kept the women for a few days. I read he was apprehended in April 1990 and Cheryl and Andy were killed in August 1990.

 

[mocity]

Next week is the 27th anniversary of Cheryl and Andy's murder that remains unsolved. One of the news stations here will be interviewing my family. Unless something else takes up the spot I think it will air on the 23rd on Channel 11 here in Houston. The case has also been assigned a new (new to the case) investigator. I pray this will bring some new interest.

Houston Police Cold Case Unit has it still listed as a "Featured Cold Case". http://www.houstontx.gov/police/cold_cases/featured_cases.htm

 

[mocity]

Today marks 27 years since Cheryl was taken from this world and from family and the many friends that love her. Our family interviewed with a local station last night. It should be aired in September during the kick off of the fall tv lineup.

 

[mocity]

For anyone in Houston - Channel 11 did a piece on Cheryl's unsolved murder on the anniversary which was the week before Harvey hit. The hope was the story would run when primetime lineup was coming up. Harvey pushed that back. Now the story will run on Channel 11 this Friday evening on the 10pm news. Promos on it started today.

 

[margarita25]

Next week is the 27th anniversary of Cheryl and Andy's murder that remains unsolved. One of the news stations here will be interviewing my family. Unless something else takes up the spot I think it will air on the 23rd on Channel 11 here in Houston. The case has also been assigned a new (new to the case) investigator. I pray this will bring some new interest.

Houston Police Cold Case Unit has it still listed as a "Featured Cold Case". http://www.houstontx.gov/police/cold_cases/featured_cases.htm

Today marks 27 years since Cheryl was taken from this world and from family and the many friends that love her. Our family interviewed with a local station last night. It should be aired in September during the kick off of the fall tv lineup.

For anyone in Houston - Channel 11 did a piece on Cheryl's unsolved murder on the anniversary which was the week before Harvey hit. The hope was the story would run when primetime lineup was coming up. Harvey pushed that back. Now the story will run on Channel 11 this Friday evening on the 10pm news. Promos on it started today.

Thank you mocity. Positive thoughts to you and your family. I am so glad to hear that Cheryl's and Andy's case will be featured. Please post an online link when you can for those of us that are not local.

:grouphug:

:rose: :rose:
Cheryl and Andy
27 years.

 

[mocity]

Re-posting this small map at someone's request. Nothing new.

 

[mcte99]

Got it! Thank you!

 

[Elley Mae]

Hi Mocity I'm an advocate that helps a few families with missing loved ones. I've set up FB pages that they now run to get their cases out there. One Eric Franks will be on Disappeared when it starts back up. I've been trying to figure out how to submit his case to the show for 2 years. No clue how they found it except they searched for missing persons with certain criteria. His case is very solvable.

Best advice I have for you, as you know LE can only do so much. Families have to take it upon themselves to keep the public aware, Facebook is the best way to do that. I can point you to a few of my pages so you can see how I set the narrative up, I include all of the links I can plus any screen shots or photos of articles. It's very important to location tag photos. You would surely want to get the sketch out there. You can also log in as the page and share things like the sketch to local PD's FB pages. You may even want to make a flier with as much info as you can. Have someone make a local map then put Cheryl and Andy with as much info as you can from that article or what you know so far, maybe have the class do some research to see if there were any other rapes within a 50 mile radius. See if homicide detective Billy Belk is still around. You can also look into ordering their file with Freedom of information act.





There is other testing they can do on the DNA, it's a new technology called DNA phenotyping to possibly build the rapists face from his DNA. I'm not sure how expensive it is. You can read about it here

Aurora releases DNA-generated composite of suspect in 1984 slaughter of Bennett family - Parabon specializes in DNA phenotyping. It creates images that help police identify possible suspects of unsolved crimes.

Building a Face, and a Case, on DNA




Basically, Websleuths is just a tool for people to work various cases whether missing, John or Jane Does or unsolved cases such as this. There really isn't anyone to ask what's needed until someone familiar with this case steps up to organize something. The best person for that is Mocity.

Phenotyping was used in Vanessa Marcotte investigation. Great break though in dna testing.

 

[mocity]

Small wins. They are doing the familia dna testing. On local news tonight in Houston. Will post video soon. http://www.khou.com/mobile/article/...-help-solve-lovers-lane-murders/285-492796954


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[TedMac]

@ mocity...I have followed this case (though I have never posted here before) for quite a while and tried to read everything I can on it. It seems to me that the killer had to (1) have knowledge of this location was known as a "lovers lane" and he waited for a couple to show up so he could rape the female and/or (2) he was someone who knew Andy and Cheryl and had knowledge they were going to that location that night and layed in wait for them. I tend to think it was #1. Not only did he rape the dancer as evidenced by the DNA, but he knew couples went to this location. The dancer indicated that he was a stranger to her and not someone she knew. I think if it was someone that knew Cheryl, they would have had a hard time following them there as I doubt that either she or Andy would have announced they were going to a lover's lane.

Stranger rape/murders are the hardest to solve. I admit to not understanding why he has never re-offended as evidenced by his DNA not showing up in any other crime scenes or arrests. Usually killers like this don't stop with just one victim. It makes me think that he is either dead or after Cheryl & Andy's murders, started hiding the bodies where they can't be found.

 

[mocity]

Here is the link to the story that ran on Cheryl and Andy's murder Friday night:

http://www.khou.com/news/investigat...y-to-help-solve-lovers-lane-murders/492796954

 

[kemo]

CODIS is a data base maintained by the FBI of all DNA collected by each state. criminal investigations as far back as the late 1980’s but the collection of samples from inmates, not suspected of any unsolved crimes did not begin in earnest until after 1994 when Congress authorized funding for CODIS. That allowed all state data bases to be accessed for comparison . It provided a reason for states to expand the collection and compiling a record of samples collected. Initially, only those convicted of sex crimes were collected and added to the data base. Gradually states expanded their criteria but standards vary greatly among states. All states have begun collecting DNA from all inmates currently incarcerated but some states also collect it from some or all those arrested even if they are never convicted of anything. Some states have even gone back and collected samples from former inmates who have completed their sentences. In addition, some states have been very remiss in processing samples collected and have backlogs going back years. It is very possible that some states were so backlogged that samples were discarded.

For these reasons, the present of the population covered on CODIS varies greatly by state and is is entirely possible that someone could have been arrested or convicted of a crime long after 1990 and it not have their DNA on CODIS.


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[mocity]

@ mocity...I have followed this case (though I have never posted here before) for quite a while and tried to read everything I can on it. It seems to me that the killer had to (1) have knowledge of this location was known as a "lovers lane" and he waited for a couple to show up so he could rape the female and/or (2) he was someone who knew Andy and Cheryl and had knowledge they were going to that location that night and layed in wait for them. I tend to think it was #1. Not only did he rape the dancer as evidenced by the DNA, but he knew couples went to this location. The dancer indicated that he was a stranger to her and not someone she knew. I think if it was someone that knew Cheryl, they would have had a hard time following them there as I doubt that either she or Andy would have announced they were going to a lover's lane.

Stranger rape/murders are the hardest to solve. I admit to not understanding why he has never re-offended as evidenced by his DNA not showing up in any other crime scenes or arrests. Usually killers like this don't stop with just one victim. It makes me think that he is either dead or after Cheryl & Andy's murders, started hiding the bodies where they can't be found.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I tend to not give the "lovers lane" much credence. After Cheryl was killed we spoke with the detectives. I told them it was a place we would go to "hang out". It was basically a gathering place for people to listen to music, drink, etc. Somehow that evolved into a place where young adults "park".

 

[TedMac]

@ mocity. Thank you for your response and for correcting me. Still, the hangout place would not be known to the general public. The killer would almost have to be someone familiar with area and where the hangout was. Unless either Cheryl or Andy told someone they were going there that evening, the killer would have to be someone familiar with the hangout or someone familiar with them and their plans for that evening. I guess my point is...a total stranger such as a serial killer would not have knowledge of that particular location or that Cheryl & Andy would be there. Please correct me if you feel I am wrong.

Also, is LE updating the families on the progress (or lack there of) of the investigation?

 

[mocity]

@ mocity. Thank you for your response and for correcting me. Still, the hangout place would not be known to the general public. The killer would almost have to be someone familiar with area and where the hangout was. Unless either Cheryl or Andy told someone they were going there that evening, the killer would have to be someone familiar with the hangout or someone familiar with them and their plans for that evening. I guess my point is...a total stranger such as a serial killer would not have knowledge of that particular location or that Cheryl & Andy would be there. Please correct me if you feel I am wrong.

Also, is LE updating the families on the progress (or lack there of) of the investigation?

@TedMac. I hope you dont think I was trying to correct you. I was just trying to give the background on it. I have always been frustrated that "lovers lane" seems to be something I may have started unintentionally. You are right - I think someone would have to had been familiar with the area.

Regarding LE - when this first happened in 1990 the detective that worked this was awesome. He is a great guy and very friendly with my family. He kept everyone up to date. However, he retired and since then the case gets moved around and much of the time we don't know who has it. Several months ago the detective on the case reached out to my family and met with them. I am not sure how long she has had the case. The first we heard of them running the Familia DNA was on the news piece.