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

[mocity]

I covered this case in the very first episode of a true crime podcast I still have today.

Things I ask in the episode:
-Could the rape victim could remember the suspects handedness? (right or left or which seemed to be most dominant)
-Did her boyfriend have any friends or work colleagues that she thought could be her rapist?
-He allegedly mentioned the bf's name during the attack. Did he get lucky and just see her boyfriend's name on a piece of mail and that's how he knew his name to frighten her with, or did he know him from before? The bf worked as a pilot or for the airlines if I remember correctly, right? Was the rapist a TSA agent or was his uniform similar to a pilot or airport security garb?

I personally believe that the killer stalked Cheryl from the club. If Andy took her home or if she left with her sister he could've followed her to her next destination and planned another separate attack after seeing where she lived or frequented. He lucked out with them going to a secluded spot. Perhaps he parked far away and pulled a sneak attack on the car after they had settled in. I think he was angry that Cheryl was with Andy, hence his brutal over kill of Andy.

I theorized that maybe there could be two offenders to help subdue each victim, but usually with rape, I feel that if one man rapes a victim the other will as well, and there's only one DNA match. I think he might have known Cheryl from a previous encounter at her job or something of that nature if she had been an employee of a strip club like the first rape victim was, or she was just his "type". He's clearly opportunistic but also methodical. He might have planned out the first known rape (breaking in, waiting, knowing personal information), but he's also taking a risk by doing all of that. What if she never went upstairs, what if the bf came home, what if she brought friends over? I think that he saw Cheryl, whether he knew her or not and took the risk of Andy being there.

The theory that he was lying in wait at the lovers lane area is possible, but I feel like he wouldn't have wanted to risk a fruitless night of rape and murder by hoping someone/a couple shows up. Instead he stalks them, just like the first woman, and goes in for the attack. Who's to say he wouldn't have attacked the first victim if her bf was home or not?

I couldn't figure out why he had a spare golf club and balls on his person or in his vehicle. If he did, did he work at a course nearby or was it a hobby? Golf isn't the cheapest sport to maintain as a regular hobby (clubs, proper golf attire, course fees etc.) so perhaps he had money? What country clubs or courses were around during that time and in that area? Did they check for tire tracks or foot prints from the scene, or camera footage from the club?

Money was supposedly left at the scene. Was it from Andy's wallet, Cheryl's purse, or the killer? Did they attempt to obtain prints from the bill? Having cash on hand is far too common so I don't think it has anything to do with him working for tips or one of those theories I've seen.

I know they obviously found seminal DNA, but did they try and find a link to a murder weapon? How were they cut? Was it a slice, a carving, was it sloppy or surgical? He supposedly used a gun to threaten the first rape victim, but then switched to a blade of some kind. Why the switch? Was the gun even loaded in the first attack or was it used just as a threat?

Why did he seem to escalate so quickly and then drop off the face of the earth? Did he move to another state, out of the country, or simply stop?

I could go on and on, and some of these questions have probably already been eliminated through the previous threads, but I just wanted to put my questions out there.

What is your podcast? I would love to listen to it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[margarita25]

All the dates are confusing. They went out to eat and then to Bayou Mama's the night of August 22nd. The next day the security guard found the car. Cheryl was found late that evening and Andy was found the next morning. Our families treat August 23rd as the date they died. They were most likely killed early morning on August 23rd. This HPD press release confirms the August 22nd date. http://www.houstontx.gov/police/nr/2008/may/nr051908-4.htm

Marking.

 

[margarita25]

Just came across post from SB's thread again:

Stephanie was abducted in the same area 15 days after Cheryl & Andy was murdered on 22/Aug/1990. In 2008, their murderer was linked with DNA to the rape of a woman 2 months before they were murdered. The womain is alive and she gave her rapist's details to police.

More info here: https://www.websleuths.com/forums/s...p-Andy-Atkinson-21-Houston-21-Aug-1990/page24

Map below is for the other thread, but it shows where Stephanie was which is very close to murder area and the clubs that I suspect the murderer worked as a security/employee or was a client of.

Bayou Mama's: Club Cheryl and Andy went on a date and were last seen
Gigi's: Club rape victim was working in
Rick's Cabaret: Club Cheryl worked as a waitress
Gym: Andy's workplace
DreamSteet: Andy's father's club

Eta: Wait a minute, can we plug in Rossmo's here?? 5+ data points!

 

[margarita25]

I would like to know if the rape victim's boyfriend (the pilot) used to hang around Gigi's when his girlfriend was working.
Whoever attacked her knew/knew of him.
If he did work there, he may have stuck up a conversation with this guy and mentioned she was his gf and that he was a pilot heading out say tomorrow night.
If he didn't hang around there. This tells me that the victim knew her attacker enough as to mention her bf and his profession to him.
IMO this attack was also personal due to the almost 11 mile drive and the collection of personal information ie. full name, address, bf's profession,etc.
I know that in previous discussions, some seemed to thing the suspect is gay and was hoping that the victims bf was home at the time of the attack and Andy was also the target.
I disagree.
My thoughts are that this guy had a hatred towards women, and in both cases, and possibly a few others (Tara Beckenridge and Stephanie Buellers) the women were the targets. The 20 dollar bill left at Cheryls crime scene tells me that.
IMO he possibly had an abusive mother that was a prostitute and or an exotic dancer, and has an enormous amount of hate towards her.
I know that Cheryl and Tara were both waitresses and not dancers, but they both worked at "Gentlemans Clubs", and so did the rape victim.
I know it was two years since Cheryl was a waitress at Ricks, but he may have remembered her from there.

Just to add:
Some think he may have been a security guard at a club, because he was wearing a uniform at the rape victims home.
If he was a security guard, he may have also worked the second shift someplace else, and went to the clubs after work.
I know the timeline would be close in Cheryls case if he worked 3-11 but he could have worked 2-10, or it could have been his night off.
I would think by now that any security guard working at clubs in the area at the time would have been investigated.

So, if not already done recently, perhaps a review of the names of the early interviewees is in order....I see this technique score all the time on Cold Case Files, Forensic Files, etc...isn't there some sort of stat that the later cold case review of early names in files/interviews accounts for a notable percentage of solved cases?

 

[margarita25]

When someone gets a chance can they please bring forward the specific crime scene details here again that we know of if I don't post them, a link will suffice out of respect for mocity ( so sorry, mocity but I'm thinking about an angle (ritualistic details))

 

[Lmustang89]

I hope the police have submitted the DNA to a DNA registry for family match.

Golden State Killer: Can police get your DNA 23andMe, Ancestry.com
https://www.ajc.com/news/national/c...from-23andme-ancestry/8eZ24WN7VisoQiHAFbcmjP/
4 days ago ... The DNA you send in the mail through genetics kits and ancestry programs like 23andMe and Ancestry can be used by police in a criminal investigation, but it doesn't happen very often.

 

[Rocky1]

I hope the police have submitted the DNA to a DNA registry for family match.

Golden State Killer: Can police get your DNA 23andMe, Ancestry.com
https://www.ajc.com/news/national/c...from-23andme-ancestry/8eZ24WN7VisoQiHAFbcmjP/
4 days ago ... The DNA you send in the mail through genetics kits and ancestry programs like 23andMe and Ancestry can be used by police in a criminal investigation, but it doesn't happen very often.

Thank you for the link.
If you go back and read pages 30-32, there's been some discussion on this topic.
IMO Parabon would be the place to start. That would reveal many more details discussed in the previous pages, including a pic of this guy. From there, probable cause may be established for a Judge to issue a warrant to companies like the one you posted.

 

[ANGTG1220]

Please keep spreading the word of Cheryl and Andy’s murders! Our family is praying for answers now that there is a new detective and a new set of eyes on this case!

 

[morf13]

Bump, keep this case in the spotlight

 

[Rocky1]

Please keep spreading the word of Cheryl and Andy’s murders! Our family is praying for answers now that there is a new detective and a new set of eyes on this case!

Welcome ANGTG.

 

[margarita25]

Please keep spreading the word of Cheryl and Andy’s murders! Our family is praying for answers now that there is a new detective and a new set of eyes on this case!

Hi ANGTG1220! Please see my signature! It's been there a while and will continue to be! As long as it takes!

 

[morf13]

I predict this case is solved soon!

 

[mocity]

I predict this case is solved soon!

I sure hope so! What gives you this feeling?

 

[morf13]

I sure hope so! What gives you this feeling?

If there's good DNA, it can be uploaded to GedMatch just like the Mirack, Tinsley, Golden State Killer cases, etc...then tracked via genealogy to a suspect

 

[mocity]

If there's good DNA, it can be uploaded to GedMatch just like the Mirack, Tinsley, Golden State Killer cases, etc...then tracked via genealogy to a suspect

I agree! Unfortunately we are having NO luck getting that done right now. We are going back and forth with our detective. I keep sending her cases that are being solved this way. She said they wont do that until all leads have been exhausted. What???? It's been 28 years!

 

[Dewclaw]

I agree with Morf. I think they will solve it soon. With the technology, the open database, and the interest in the case, they will have to. It is just a matter of when, not if.

 

[morf13]

I agree! Unfortunately we are having NO luck getting that done right now. We are going back and forth with our detective. I keep sending her cases that are being solved this way. She said they wont do that until all leads have been exhausted. What???? It's been 28 years!

It only costs a couple grand $ to do that process. When they compare that to the hundreds of man hours, and thousands of dollars they have likely spent in the last 28 years, this should be a no brainer for them

 

[morf13]

Also, @mocity check your PM

 

[mocity]

Agreed so I don't understand the resistance. We have offered to pay as well. Seems like a no brainer to me as well.

 

[Rocky1]

Agreed so I don't understand the resistance. We have offered to pay as well. Seems like a no brainer to me as well.

Mocity....
My thoughts at this time is to put pressure on city government to get this case solved. If this was a recent case involving a young child that was just murdered, you'd have lots of detectives working on this. Why? Because Mayors and District Attorneys want to be re-elected.
As I have said before, you have to do what you think is right, but I suggest first contacting this group. I am sure if nothing else, they could guide you through the proper channels to take, perhaps getting petitions signed to get this investigation moving.
http://www.coldcasecrimes.org/index.html
Here's a few ideas about getting an online Petition signed. I am sure that many here would sign, me being the first.
iPetitions - Online petition - Free petitions
Petition Site: Start free online petitions
I am convinced that this case will be solved as well, however, I am also convinced that this detective needs to get with it or get off the case.